SUPPORT for the Argus Christmas Hamper Appeal is gathering pace as St Brides Medical Centre, the Celtic Manor and Newport Transport have all pledged to help.

Once again the Argus has teamed up with the King’s Church, Newport, to help spread festive cheer to hundreds of families throughout Gwent. The King’s Church Jesus Cares project is packing up hampers of food to be given out to families who cannot make ends meet, and last year readers helped donate more than 2,500 hampers to people in need.

Newport-based medical practice St Brides Medical Centre is supplying us with as many hampers as they can, containing mince pies, biscuits, squash, chocolate and pop, while the Celtic Manor has pledged Christmas puddings and other nonperishable items.

Last year Newport Transport donated £1,000 which the King’s Church put towards a van to deliver the hampers, and they have pledged to help the appeal again this year, but we still need more support.

The hampers are made up of non-perishable food, but what we are looking for are Christmas treats to make each hamper extra special for Gwent families.

Items we are looking for you to donate include Christmas puddings, mince pies, chocolate, biscuits, crisps, pickled onions, red cabbage, tinned soups or any other food items that will keep throughout the festive period. You can get involved by collecting a few items at your workplace or college, or ask your school to start collecting goodies and we will come and take a photo of your donations. Next time you are in the supermarket, pick up one or two extra items for our appeal and drop them into the Argus office on Cardiff Road, Newport.