Struggling families are to be given a “helping hand” this Christmas courtesy of St Andrew’s teaming up the town’s Mayor.

Councillor Rufia Ashraf, who was elected in May, has launched a food donation drive ahead of the festive season and staff at St Andrew’s are being urged to support it.

Dawn Wright, Voluntary Services Manager, is leading the internal campaign and has temporarily turned her office into the food drop site.

The Voluntary Services office is located within the Main Building on the Ground floor and open between 8:30am and 4pm, Monday to Friday. The deadline for dropping off goods is Friday, December 3.

Dawn said: “We’re proud to have been asked to support the Mayor for this incredibly important campaign and give our local community a helping hand this Christmas. What is unique about the St Andrew’s staff is that when help is needed, everyone comes together and delivers. They were fantastic in doing so for our ‘Poster n Treats’ campaign for heroic staff teams in the heat of the pandemic and I’m sure the food donation drive will be no different.

“We’re after non-perishable food items in tins or packets – so this could be anything from baked beans, tinned soup and pasta to packets of sweets, advent calendars and hot chocolate for those who might have a sweet tooth.”

Councillor Ashraf, who recently visited the Northampton grounds, said: “I hugely appreciate the support of St Andrew’s. This campaign is very important to me as sadly there are people out there who will not have enough money to pay for food this Christmas. No one deserves to go hungry and it pains me to know that children are going without breakfast or a meal.

“Money is tight for everyone right now, which is why we’re asking people to donate what they can afford. It might be one item, it might be several. Whatever can be spared will be hugely appreciated and I can guarantee will go a long way in showing other people that they are not alone.”

Contributions will be evenly distributed between the Sikh Centre & Homeless Food Service, the Hope Centre and Re-Start.

Staff can drop non-perishable food items at the Volunteers office, which is on the Ground floor of the Main Building between 8:30-4 Monday to Friday.

The deadline for all drop offs is Friday, December 3.