THE Argus Christmas Hamper Appeal is gaining support as Tata Steel, Clarks Maple Syrup and Blenheim Road Community School 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’s Jesus Cares project is packing up hampers of food to be given out to families who cannot make ends meet. Last year Argus readers helped donate more than 2,500 hampers to people in need.

This year Newport steelworks Tata Steel will supply a minimum of £150 worth of products for the hampers while Clarks has pledged to donate some of its many maple syrup-based products.

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 nonperishable food, but we are looking for some Christmas treats which can be added to each hamper to make them extra special for Gwent families.

‘Luxury’ items we are looking for 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, or contact Emma or Keiligh on 01633 777206 /777006.