By Margaret Maccoll
After a successful first year, Basket Buddies’ aim this year is to enlist more help so even more families can benefit at Christmas.
Basket Buddies was designed by Sunshine Coast Basket Brigade, an offshoot of registered charity Magic Moments Foundation, to gather food pantry items for gift baskets that are delivered to families in need just before Christmas.
Co-ordinator Karyn Bartholomai said the voluntary group aimed to pack and deliver 300 baskets this year.
“That’s 100 more than last Christmas, so we really need some extra Basket Buddies to help out,” she said.
Families, workplaces, schools and other groups including sporting teams can join.
“Last year the whole Cougars Ladies Netball team signed up as Basket Buddies, and each shopped for a family,” she said.
“Their team organiser Christine advised the ladies what food item to buy when she sent through the game details each week.”
“It’s easy to be a Basket Buddy. You just add one extra food item to your weekly shopping basket between June and November and you’ll receive a food list, so you’ll know what to buy.
“The Basket Brigade team has developed a simple, weekly list. It could be a jar of pasta sauce, a tin of beetroot, a packet of rice or pasta, a packet of biscuits or cereal.
“We’ve chosen a list of staple, non-perishable food items that can be put together to cook two to three family meals, plus a few Christmas treats”.
In November, the Basket Brigade team will tally all the food collected, pack it into baskets and deliver it to nominated families, along with a gift for every family member.
To be a Basket Buddy, sign up online before 5 June at eepurl.com/cL_fp1
