SEVEN charitable volunteers from a leading Newport bank gave up their time to help pack food hampers for the ongoing Jesus Cares campaign.

Jesus Cares, funded by the Big Lottery Fund, started in 2009 as a result of community organisations contacting the Kings Church, Newport, to ask for food for families they were working with, who had no money to feed their children.

Staff at the Newport branch of Nat West turned up at the warehouse on 71 Lower Dock Street on Friday to pack hundreds of hampers. Stephen Noakes, director business banking, and six of his team decided to help with the campaign. Mr Noakes said: “I am delighted we are able to support this local event. It is easy to forget how fortunate we are and at this time of year we decided it would be important to give something back to the community.”

The team was made up of staff members Jenny Small, Andrew Arnald, Katie Baker, Jo Aplin, Nick Bradley and Andrew Tummon, who also donated boxes of mince pies to the appeal.

The Argus has got on board with the project again this year to try to raise the profile of the work already carried out by the church, based at Lower Dock Street, and encourage as many readers and local businesses as possible to donate. So far 2,000 hampers, each worth between £20 and £25 have already been distributed to agencies across South Wales such as Teen Challenge, Solace, Gwent Probation and Big Issue, who will disperse the hampers to clients in need; with the aim of delivering more than 3,000 hampers to those in need across Gwent

The Argus is asking generous readers to encourage people at their business, workplace, school, office or factory, to donate items such as Christmas puddings, mince pies, chocolate and biscuits, or any other food item that will keep throughout the festive period.

We plan to feature those who support us and carry updates in the run-up to Christmas. Pop items into the King’s Church office on 71 Lower Dock Street, Newport.

If you would like to support our appeal, contact Sophie Brownson on 01633 777247 or email sophie.brownson@southwalesargus.co.uk.

Or contact Paul Carey on 01633 777221 or paul.carey@gwent-wales.co.uk for more details.