THE KINGS Church’s Jesus Cares campaign has expanded this Christmas with hundreds of presents being given out to children across South Wales.

Volunteers turned up at the Newport church to pack and wrap around 800 gifts for children from struggling families.

Jesus Cares, funded by the Big Lottery Fund, started in 2009 after community groups contacted the Kings Church to ask for food for families they were working with, who had no money to feed their children.

The Argus has got on board again this year to try and raise the profile of the work carried out by the church, based at Lower Dock Street, and encourage as many readers and businesses as possible to pitch in.

The church has exceeded its target of delivering 3,000 food hampers to agencies across South Wales, such as Teen Challenge, Solace, Gwent Probation, and Big Issue, who will disperse the hampers to those in need, and has also gone the extra mile to provide not only food, but gifts as well.

Faye Edwards of Jesus Cares said: “About 3,000 Christmas food hampers have been delivered, but we are still looking to carry on making up the hampers in the run-up to Christmas, so we are still looking for donations. This week was our big present wrap where we wrapped about 800 presents.

“We had donations from Youth Church Charity who gave presents, as well as other donations from the public and members of the congregation. “We are really excited to give these presents alongside our food collections.”

Jesus Cares is still looking for people or organisations to donate Christmas treats to make their hampers that extra bit special.

The Argus is asking readers to encourage people at their business, workplace, school, office or factory, to donate items such as Christmas puddings, mince pies, chocolate and biscuits.

In return, we plan to feature those who support us.

So next time you pop to the supermarket, pick up a few extra items and pop them into Kings Church.

Call Sophie Brownson on 01633 777247 or you can email sophie.brownson@southwalesargus.co.uk to support the appeal.

Or contact Paul Carey on 01633 777 221 or paul.carey@gwent-wales.co.uk for more details.