By Hollie Harris
Following the success of Basket Buddies’ first two years, with more than 500 families receiving baskets full of food and gifts at Christmas, the group has increased its target this year to 350 baskets – 50 more than last year.
The Basket Brigade has been overwhelmed by the generosity of Sunshine Coast families, workplaces, schools and other groups who collected food items each week, for the baskets.
This year they will also provide families with recipe cards to make a main meal and desert for Christmas. The food collected by the Buddies each week will make up these recipes.
“It’s easy to be a Basket Buddy and anyone can join. For just a few dollars a week, you can really make a difference this Christmas to a Sunshine Coast family in need,“ a spokeswoman said.
If you’re able to add one extra food item to your weekly shopping basket (June-November – 24 weeks), sign up NOW to become a Basket Buddy either via our Facebook Page SunshineCoastBasketBrigade or online at www.eepurl.com/du3oW9 or call call the Basket Brigade team on 0411 834 199.
You’ll then receive a food list – so you’ll know what to buy each week, starting from this week. Then you just keep collecting your food items right up to the drop off/collection week in late November. The Basket Brigade team will then tally all the food collected by the Basket Buddies, and work out what they need to buy, if anything, to top up the 350 baskets.
All the food donated will be packed into baskets for all nominated families/individuals, along with a gift for every family member. All baskets will be delivered by Basket Brigade volunteers right across the Sunshine Coast on Saturday, 15 December.
