A mother who is happy to share chocolate with her children. The first taste of mashed potatoes and scrambled eggs. The pantry is full, so there’s money for a small Christmas gift. Knowing that your neighbor is thinking of you.

That’s the purpose of a charity’s Christmas time hampers.

What started as a one-off idea with 21 hampers a decade ago has grown exponentially with 2030 hampers needed this Christmas.

Project, cherish christmasIt is run by Wellington residents Gabe Ralph and Claire Turner.

“For us, it’s about spreading the Christmas sparkle,” Ralph said.

“We want to show families in our community that we are thinking of them.”

Photograph: RNZ / REECE BAKER

Over the last decade, they have provided 6,387 baskets of food to families in the city of Wellington, which extends to the Kāpiti Coast.

Turner was volunteering at a school in Lower Hutt, where he saw first-hand that ākonga needed the breakfasts, fruit and milk provided by Kids Can.

“I started thinking about how hard it is for parents when they’re not at school and they’re home during Christmas break,” she said.

“I know what my two teenage sons are like and how much time they spend in the pantry and refrigerator.”

He wanted to raise funds and try to help “a few families” in the area.

“We were excited to raise enough money to make 21 baskets that year,” Turner said.

“And we thought, let’s try again next year.”

The project has since grown and needed a warehouse, which Farrah lent, to pack the Christmas baskets.

The baskets are valued at $150 each. These consist of fresh fruits and vegetables, a dozen eggs, and pantry staples.

Photograph: RNZ / REECE BAKER

Originally, the purpose of the basket was to provide a Christmas spread, Ralph said.

In the first year of the baskets, they offered fried chicken and butter.

“But then one of the kids who got the basket said they didn’t have electricity at home, so they couldn’t run the refrigerator,” Ralph said.

“So we pivoted pretty quickly to focus on stocking the pantry rather than putting Christmas dinner on the table.”

When the pantry is full, money is released for small Christmas gifts.

They receive great feedback every year from the schools and services they provide.

“One school told us we made the big boys cry every year,” Turner said.

“Food is important, but we’re also getting a lot of feedback that people care about it.”

Ralph said the growth was organic; It was never planned.

Nourish now reaches every primary school in the Greater Wellington region.

“Schools tell us how many families need baskets and we do our best to increase that amount,” Ralph said.

They need to raise $304,500 this year and are currently facing a shortfall.

The need for baskets has increased every year; In 2023, 1780 baskets were requested, and in 2022, 1207 baskets were needed.

But this is the first year the team is truly worried. Approximately 600 baskets are missing from reaching all their families in need.

“There’s a huge push to raise grant money, raise money from businesses and donations, and then just the grocery costs have gone up, they’ve all gone up,” Ralph said.

“And we’re seeing families doing this more challenging than ever before, and all kinds of stress seems to be amplified around Christmas.”

As an entirely volunteer-run charity, they fly under the radar, Turner said. But they don’t give up.

“If anyone wants to support us, let’s spread the word about what we do. We have great business sponsors, so why not sponsor us too,” he said.

Tui Glen School principal Jessica Meates said Nourish had helped hundreds of families over the years.

“These hampers ease some of the financial burden on households and this should not be taken lightly, there are often tears when whānau arrive to collect the hampers.”

Meates said that Turner and Claire had previously “feeded the whole school” (“out of their own pocket”) every Friday. They would bring sandwiches and homemade pastries before the school lunch program. He said that participation has increased even more.

His work continues.

“Our goal is huge to reach, but we’re thinking of it one basket at a time. So if someone can donate just one basket, we’ll get closer and closer to our goal,” Turner said.