CWMBRAN businesses joined forces last week to back the Newport-based Jesus Cares Christmas hamper campaign.

Food, gifts, Christmas products and toiletries were donated by over 70 businesses at a business networking event on December 11 to be passed on to Jesus Cares.

Funded by the Big Lottery Fund, Jesus Cares started in 2009 as a result of community organisations contacting 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 with the project again this year to try and raise the profile of the work already carried out by the church, based at Lower Dock Street, Newport, and encourage as many readers and local businesses as possible to pitch in.

And the Business to Business networking group, which meets twice a month, were inspired to get involved after Faye Edwards, of Jesus Cares, spoke at their meeting a few weeks ago.

Kersty (corr) Evans, an organiser of the business networking group, said: “We felt we had to do something after the visit we had from Jesus Cares.

“I was utterly taken aback by the amount of people in our area who need stuff. I was absolutely dumbfounded.

“We had to do something so we started contacting as many businesses as possible and the response was tremendous.”

As well as this, cash donations were also made to the Jesus Cares campaign to buy more gifts and food towards the hamper campaign.

The Kings Church has exceeded its target of delivering around 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 clients in need, but is still looking for donations in the weeks running up to Christmas.

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, or any other food item that will keep throughout the festive period.