Burgess Hill's Christmas Hamper Project hopes to reach about 260 households this year. Food goes to four drop-off points by Friday 4 December.

Burgess Hill’s Christmas Hamper Project is asking residents, schools and businesses for food for this year’s hampers. It aims to deliver them to about 260 families and individuals in the Burgess Hill area before Christmas.

Burgess Hill Town Council, which leads the project, launched the 2026 appeal on 2 November. (Burgess Hill Town Council press release, 2 November 2026)

The quick answer

  • Drop food off by Friday 4 December at the Town Council Help Point, Specsavers, the Triangle Leisure Centre or The King’s Church.
  • Running a collection at work? Deliver it to The King’s Church by 10am on Wednesday 9 December.
  • Only the listed items, in good quality brands rather than value ranges. No fresh food and nothing past its date.

How many people it reached last year

The town council’s project page says the 2025 project made up 246 hampers, which supported 748 people. Rapid Relief Team UK gave a further 49 emergency food boxes on top. (Burgess Hill Town Council, Christmas Hamper Project)

This year’s target of about 260 households is a little higher than last year’s 246 hampers.

Who runs it

The partners named in this year’s release are:

  • Burgess Hill Town Council, which coordinates the project
  • Burgess Hill Community Food Bank
  • Burgess Hill Youth
  • Burgess Hill District Lions Club
  • Burgess Hill Rotary
  • The King’s Church Mid-Sussex, which hosts it

Mid Sussex District Council has put money towards the cost of the food. A local firm, Steve Willis Training Centres, has agreed to sponsor the hamper boxes for the next three years. The release says the boxes had been “a significant financial burden” and that the sponsorship secures the project’s future until 2029.

John Todd, president of Burgess Hill District Lions, said the Lions had been involved “from the beginning”. He said the hampers help people “facing hardship with the ever rising cost of living” and bring “a little cheer and festivity to what could be a bleak time.”

The King’s Church said it was “a real privilege” to take part again.

Rows of empty cardboard hamper boxes laid out across a hall floor, with volunteers sorting donated food on tables behind them
Boxes laid out for packing at a previous year's Christmas Hamper Project. Photo: supplied by Burgess Hill Town Council

What to give

The organisers want every hamper to be similar, so they ask for these items only:

Cupboard basics Tins Treats
Sugar Vegetables: carrots, peas or sweetcorn Angel Delight
Tea bags or instant coffee Meat or meatballs Jelly packet
Pasta Fruit Biscuits
Pasta sauces Tomatoes Jam
Cereal Rice pudding Chocolate selection box
UHT milk Custard Mince pies
Fish
Baked beans
Soup

The council’s flyer asks donors not to add anything else, and to buy “products that are of nice quality” rather than value lines. Fresh food and anything past its best before or use by date cannot be accepted.

Where to take it

Four places in Burgess Hill take donations until Friday 4 December:

  • Burgess Hill Town Council Help Point, 96 Church Walk
  • Specsavers
  • The Triangle Leisure Centre
  • The King’s Church

Businesses and schools can also run their own collection point and bring everything to The King’s Church by 10am on Wednesday 9 December. Last year Burgess Hill Academy, Downlands Community School, Woodlands Meed and St Paul’s Catholic College collected donations and sent pupils to help pack, according to the council.

What it means for you

If you want to help, pick a few things from the list on your next shop and drop them at one of the four points before 4 December. The council’s Community Engagement Team takes questions on 01444 247726 or at communityteam@burgesshill.gov.uk.

If you are struggling yourself this winter, Burgess Hill Community Food Bank is one of the partners. The release does not say how households are chosen for a hamper; last year some were collected by “nominating agencies”, so the food bank or the town council is the place to ask.

Other Christmas events in the town, including the four-day Christmas Festival, are on our Burgess Hill Christmas Festival page.

Sources