SOARING energy bills, potential food shortages and the withdrawal of the £20 Universal Credit uplift means that a Teignbridge charity is gearing up for what it believes will be a frantic festive period.

Homeless in Teignbridge Support, or as it is more commonly known ‘HITS’, is a volunteer-led charity whose operations focus, primarily, around the day-to-day running of a foodbank.

Now abut to undertake its annual festive hamper and Christmas present project, HITS is calling upon members of the public to put forward the names of individuals and/or families for whom the festive period will likely be one marked by particular hardship and, therefore, for whom the gift of a HITS Christmas hamper would have the best chance to make a real difference.

It is understood that the Christmas hampers can either be delivered directly by HITS drivers or can be taken to and then distributed by whoever ordered the hamper.

Chock full of the items typically found in HITS foodpacks, the Christmas hampers also include produce synonymous with the period such as mince pies and are, as far as it is possible, tailored to the recipient according to the size and ages of the household.

As well as the Christmas hampers HITS will also be providing Christmas presents to school children throughout Teignbridge.

Suggestions for Christmas hamper recipients and the ages and genders of those school children in line to receive Christmas presents should be passed on to HITS no later than November 5.

This deadline is necessary as the charity is anticipating an influx in demand for their services following a flurry of key social issues seemingly coming to a head one after the other.

The chairman of Trustees for HITS, David Cox BEM, described recent events as a ‘perfect storm’ that has ‘pushed some people over the edge’ and, therefore, the charity are preparing to accommodate this extra demand by requesting that members of the public get their recommendations in as early as possible.

A local charity supporting local people, HITS prides itself on being a community-driven organisation and is only possible thanks to the continuous donations from generous patrons across Teignbridge.

Sibelco, a global material solutions company that has a presence in Newton Abbot, has been instrumental in bringing about HITS aims - providing a base of operations and use of the relevant utilities at no cost to the charity.

Readers can contact Homeless in Teignbridge Support on 01626 906371 or via email at: [email protected]