Gloucestershire’s highways maintenance company Amey has been supporting the Hamper Scamper Christmas appeal, helping to distribute over 1000 hampers to families and vulnerable people around the county over Christmas.
In all, nine volunteers from Amey gave their time to support the project, collecting money from the public, food for the hampers and helping to distribute the hampers themselves.
Christmas is always seen as a special time of year, but this is not the case for everyone. The expense and expectation can place a real strain on any family, but particularly those with low incomes and stressed family circumstances. There are also many lonely and vulnerable young people and adults who simply have nobody to be with at this time of year.
The Hamper Scamper appeal has now been running for 13 years and in 2015 it supported 927 families, homeless young people, vulnerable adults and isolated elderly by providing them with a Christmas food parcel as well as gifts for children and young people within the families.
Understanding the great value of the work that takes place through this initiative, which is organised by the Cheltenham-based County Communities Project, Amey lent its support through a £300 donation and through many hours of volunteering. This project was part of a wider Amey initiative to support local communities by offering employees paid volunteering days: in 2016, 215 Amey employees dedicated 810 hours to supporting 12 Gloucestershire charities and community organisations.
Cordell Ray, CEO of CCP said: “We are extremely grateful to Amey continuing to support the Hamper Scamper Appeal once again this year. The help that Amey provides is invaluable, both in terms of helping us raise funds and collect food, as well as actually helping us with the operational side of the project.
Ruth Kinsella, Account Director for Amey in Gloucestershire, said: “This is such a great project and we are thrilled to be able to offer our support. For those less fortunate individuals in the county, receiving a hamper at this time of year is very welcome indeed. I know all of our employees are fully behind the project and want to make is as successful as possible.”