A poverty-tackling charity and a hygiene bank have teamed up to host a coffee morning to launch a food-distribution initiative.

The Sacks of Hope campaign, which distributes sacks filled with essential groceries and treats to families facing financial challenges at Christmas time, will be launched at The Perch co-working space in Bicester on Friday, November 17.

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The event will be hosted by the Mehiel Foundation, a small Bicester-based charity run by a husband-and-wife team, along with The Hygiene Bank.

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Founder of Sacks of Hope Lawrence Patrick said: “Christmas can be a challenging time for many families and with the cost-of-living crisis we know that more people than ever are in need of extra support at this time.

“Our coffee morning is an opportunity for the local community to come together and enjoy a chat over coffee and cake and learn more about Sacks of Hope, and, we hope, support the initiative which brings joy to so many.”

The campaign is now in its fifth year.

Last year, the charity distributed 149 sacks to families across the county, collaborating with schools, churches and community groups to identify families who might benefit.

Each sack contains essentials to help make Christmas easier for families in need, and contain fresh fruit and vegetables, pasta and rice, sweets and treats, a whole chicken, staples such as cooking oils and sauces as well as some surprises to make the occasion memorable.

The coffee morning will be held at The Perch, Charlotte Avenue, Bicester, OX27 8BL on November 17 at 10am.

 

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This story was written by Matthew Norman, he joined the team in 2022 as a Facebook community reporter.

Matthew covers Bicester and focuses on finding stories from diverse communities.

Get in touch with him by emailing: Matthew.norman@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter: @OxMailMattN1