A SOUTH Essex mum has been the driving force between a charity initiative that will make Christmas a better time for many local families.

In 2018, Lane Line from Langdon Hills - who works as a sales executive for locally-based fire protection contractor Sharpfibre - saw a Facebook post about food hampers for the Essex-based Kids Inspire charity that provides mental health and trauma recovery support for children and their families.

Not only do the hampers make up most of the Christmas meal for a family, they also give them a treat of chocolate. Lane thought this was a good way to teach her son about Christmas being about giving rather than just receiving and decided to collect some hampers.

In that first year, Lane and her friends managed to donate 18 hampers and then decided that they wanted to do something every year.

Lane spoke to Sharpfibre, who agreed to offer space to store the hampers going forward each year, with many of the staff donating too. In 2020, Lane and the team managed to donate 230 hampers, 32 selection boxes, 57 gifts and a bag full of brand new books and they are hoping to increase on those figures this year.

Lane said: "I heard a child say to one of the workers at Kids Inspire when we were dropping off the hampers that Santa wasn't coming this year because he was poorly.

"After a quick chat to the mum, the worker established that the mum did not have any means to buy food, let alone Christmas presents.

"Kids Inspire rallied around and managed to get a hamper and a gift together past their cut-off date to keep the magic of Christmas alive for that child. That is the reason we do what we do each year".

Between now and 26 November Lane and her team of helpers are collecting donations or completed hampers. The completed hampers need to be in tote bags and contain the following items:

• 1 x Box of Mince Pies
• 1 x Jar of Jam or Marmalade
• 1 x Large Christmas Pudding
• 1 x Box Tea Bags
• 1 x Long Life Custard
• 1 x Box/Tin of Biscuits
• 2 x Tinned Vegetables
• 1 x Box of Chocolates or Selection Box
• 1 x Box Savoury Crackers

As much as many would like to, it is not possible to add extra things to the hampers/tote bags, as Kids Inspire like each one to be the same, which makes it fairer to the families.

If you would like to donate a whole hamper, individual items (as listed above) or make a donation, Lane and her team are happy to buy the produce or make up the hampers for you. All donations can be dropped off at the Laindon Sharpfibre office (4-5 Braiswick Place, Laindon North Industrial Centre, SS15 6EB) from Monday to Friday between 9am and 4pm.

Kids Inspire also have an Amazon Wish List which can be viewed here by anyone wishing to add a little bit more support.

And if you would like to help Lane and her team, contact her directly by calling 01268 888225.