Feed a Family This Christmas: Appeal 'shows true spirit of Christmas'

Thousands of donations have been flooding in for the Express & Star campaign which will help struggling families and the homeless across the Black Country and Staffordshire.

The Rt Rev Clive Gregory said: "This is an appeal that gives us all a chance to show the true spirit of Christmas, that of generous giving, in practical ways that will really make a difference to people in very tough circumstances.

"Let's all get behind this and contribute what we can, large or small, to those among us in greatest need."

He has been joined in showing support for the appeal by the Bishop of Dudley. The Rt Rev Graham Usher said: "Christmas, whilst it is meant to be a time of great joy, is too frequently a worrying time for those who live daily in poverty.

"So I'm delighted to be able to support the Express and Star's campaign and I hope many others will join me in sharing something from what they have so that others can share in the joy of this season which, of course, is all about God's greatest gift and joy in Jesus."

Our appeal is running until December 14 so we can help as many people as possible in the run-up to Christmas.

The good causes being supported are the Good Shepherd Ministry, based in Wolverhampton, The Well (The home of Wolverhampton Food Bank), the Black Country Food Bank, which has centres across Dudley, Sandwell and Walsall, Smethwick Food Bank, Walsall North Food Bank, and Cannock and District Food. Items that can be donated are long-life milk, breakfast cereal, noodle pots, soup, fruit juice, fruit squash, pasta and cooking sauces, rice and sponge puddings, tinned tomatoes, tinned vegetables and tinned meat.

We would also be grateful for non-food items such as new socks, scarves, gloves, hats, shower gel, shampoo, deodorant, toothbrushes and toothpaste, tissues, nappies, baby wipes, baby lotion, sanitary towels, toilet roll and shaving gel/foam.

Donations can be dropped off at Express & Star, 51-53 Queen Street, Wolverhampton; Express & Star, Cannock-Walsall office, Queen Square, Cannock and Express & Star, Market Street, Stourbridge.

Offerings can also be taken to Waitrose, Penn Road, Wolverhampton; The Co-operative Food, Wood Lane/Bakers Way, Codsall, and The Co-op in High Holborn, Sedgley.