MORE than 130 children were assisted by a foodbank in December, which handed out Christmas parcels to families in need.

Caldicot Foodbank has reported helping 269 people over the Christmas period, 131 of whom were children. Of these, all 131 children and 72 of the adults were assisted as part of the foodbank’s special Christmas Parcel scheme.

The foodbank, which is a registered charity, relies on funding from various groups and the generosity of members of the public, and experienced its “busiest Christmas ever” last month.

Commenting on the Christmas Parcel scheme, management committee member Rachal Collins said: “We make a special effort each Christmas to ensure that those children living in difficult circumstances are not forgotten.

“Too often,” she added, “Children are victimised by their peer group when they don’t get much for Christmas: frequently on return to school.”

Included in the Christmas parcel was a selection of food that ensured a Christmas meal could be enjoyed, with the parcels also including Christmas crackers, chocolates, mince pies, cake and a range of other produce.

Where possible, woollen items were also provided, thanks to the support of a knitting group in Portskewett which donated apparel such as gloves and scarves. Where possible the foodbank also provided each child with an Advent Calendar, chocolate selection box and a book or toy.

Foodbank recipient names are provided to the charity by housing officers, community health workers, head teachers at local primary schools, district nurses and others.

Funding for the scheme comes from local churches, and among others, this year December’s Christmas Concert put on by the music department at Caldicot School. Members of the general public also play a huge role by donating food through the food bank’s collection points at ASDA, the Co-operative in West End, Waitrose and at Caldicot Library.

All of Caldicot Foodbank’s clients are referred to the charity, and cannot obtain free food without first being assessed by a professional agency. At this time the food bank is dealing with more than 20 agencies: these vary from those dealing with substance abuse, housing associations, Job Centre Plus, the Probation Service, mental health charity MIND and various others. The foodbank is a member of Raven House Trust, a registered charity, and is supported by the group ‘Churches Together in Caldicot’.

To find out more about Caldicot Foodbank, the public are invited to this year’s Annual General Meeting. This meeting is being held at 7.30pm on Tuesday 30th January, and in St Mary’s Church Hall, just off Church Road, Caldicot, next to Castle Park Junior School.