Nick Smith MP joined more than a hundred volunteers at Bay Studios, Swansea to help pack the “Everyone Deserves a Christmas” hampers heading out to Blaenau Gwent and other parts of South Wales.
A production line of volunteers packed each hamper with all the necessary ingredients for a Christmas dinner as well as festive treats and gift sets.
Mr Smith was joined by Sian Tucker, centre manager at the Ebbw Vale Institute (EVI) and volunteers from the EVI Pantry, who have kindly agreed to not only help with the packing but also pick up and deliver the hampers to Blaenau Gwent residents tomorrow (Friday, December 22).
Mr Smith said: “It is fantastic to see this brilliant initiative in action today. There’s so much goodwill on show, with carols being sung and plenty of festive cheer as we get these hampers ready to go out to families who need a helping hand this Christmas.
“Everyone deserves a Christmas, free from worrying about whether they can put together a dinner on December 25th and free to enjoy time with their family.
“It is terrible that so many families are having to choose between heating or eating this Christmas. No one should be faced with choosing whether to put the radiator on instead of putting food on the table or toys under the tree.
“Thanks to the work of those at the centre of this campaign and the army of incredible volunteers, not least Sian and her team from the EVI, hopefully what would have been a difficult time for many will be made a little easier.”

The ‘Everyone Deserves…’ campaign, started in Swansea by Carolyn Harris MP, has been helping to tackle holiday hunger across Swansea, branching out over the last few years to support people in neighbouring constituencies.
The campaign is lending a hand this winter by providing Christmas hampers to families in Blaenau Gwent and other constituencies including Merthyr Tydfil and Neath.
Nick Smith MP has been working alongside Ebbw Vale’s EVI community food Pantry to deliver the hampers to families in Blaenau Gwent.

To find out more about “Everyone Deserves…” or to donate visit: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/2023-everyone-deserves

To find out more about the EVI Pantry visit: https://evi.cymru/evi-pantry/