Brigade of baskets is back

THE Basket Brigade is back in force for another year, with an action plan to help even more families in need this Christmas.
Planning is already underway for the group’s annual food drive but this year the group is calling on local residents to become Basket Buddies over the next 18 weeks.
The Basket Buddies program encourages families, businesses or social groups to get together and buy one specific grocery item for the hamper each week from a designated list.
The system was developed to ensure those in need at Christmas time are receiving items that will hopefully be useful for the holiday period.
Last year the Basket Brigade supported over 100 local families who are referred to the group though local support networks. This year, the group hopes to help 200 families.
Anyone who wants to support the group can go online to register for the Basket Buddies program and receive a shopping list with one item to buy each week ranging in cost from about $2 to $5.
Basket Buddies co-ordinator Diedre Marczynski said the program would help spread the cost for those who wanted to help families in need.
“For just a few dollars a week, anyone can help collect the shopping items for a basket and help a local family,” she said.
The Basket Buddies program starts on Monday 25 July and anyone who wants to register can visit bit.ly/28XynFm.