To return my winning hamper?

[Vap0]

ADVICE NEEDED BEFORE COLLECTION TOMORROW PLEASE

So
We won the hamper from the preschool nativity
It’s huge
And the 2nd hamper I’ve won in a week 🙈
The first one (from works Xmas do) we are giving to grandparents for Xmas
This other one is ginormous, there is so much stuff, we do not have a big enough house for all this stuff 🙈, I don’t want to seem ungrateful but we just don’t need it and want to do something better with it than take it home.

Here are some options that I can see

1. Ask them to give it to the staff to take home if they are short of any gifts for staff
2. Ask them to hold another raffle in the new year - not sure how easy this would be - surely a sign on the door would suffice?
3. Take it to the food bank - removing booze and donating that to the village hall raffle tomorrow night for the brass band carol concert we are going to.
4. Take it to the food bank but ask preschool to take the booze for staff.

One massive thing to remember here though is that the staff all donated this stuff for the hamper so I don’t want to appear ungrateful by offering it back to them 🙈

I just don’t want to come across as ungrateful or rude

Please help

I’m open to other suggestions too 😊

OP’s said she wants to “do good” with the things she won.

I’d donate the whole thing to the brass band raffle. Easiest thing to do.

Bloody hell I hope I never have the misfortune to use a food bank if the offerings include spam, packet mash and tinned rice pudding. No one in this day and age would opt to eat those things. There are much nicer ready foods. Who makes up these lists?

Or donate it the salvation army as they put on Christmas lunches for those in need so can use the ingredients. Or they can donate it to a family in need.

www.salvationarmy.org.uk/map-page

Three.

Definitely food bank

Food banks want foods that need minimal cooking and that have long shelf lives. I suspect there is also an aspect of budget, someone spending a set amount on donations will get more calories in the things they list than in “nicer” food. The food bank I give to specifically doesn’t want chocolate this week because so many people have given treats instead of staples over the last few weeks. They always need toiletries and squash so that’s what I usually donate. It’s a sad thing to realise that the choice of a loaf of bread or a basic bottle of shampoo is a real one for some people.

I think its nice of you to not accept it, as you have already won one hamper! Can you maybe see if the local hospice may like it as a New Year Raffle prize maybe? Im also quite sure that all foodbanks will be overjoyed as well.Do people in hardship not want any nice food then?No mice pies chocs or puds! (I think you have to remove any Alcohol though)

Bit virtue signally all this? Why post, just give it away to whatever cause you feel is fit?

Why don't you give the one to GPs & donate the other one to the raffle?

3 - simply ring your local foodbank and check in advance that they can accept everything - the volunteers will be delighted to help. Or, if that's not possible, pop in and they'll go through everything with you.
I would also consider a local women's refuge if you are lucky enough to have a food bank that isn't in need at Christmas.

Take it to a church that is taking part in the big give. They are preparing hampers for families that schools have indicated to them, so that they can have a hamper for christmas

If your local foodbank does not need anymore Christmas items consider giving to your local domestic violence shelter. The address of the refuges themselves are secret but there should a local branch of women’s aid that you can drop them off at.

Take it home, remove the bits you’ll use use, take the booze to the other raffle and food bank the rest.

Whatever you do or don’t do, collect it with a gracious smile and take it away.

Option 3 for me.

I'd split it up and spread it around.

My exH won a hamper at a charity shop raffle.

He is giving it to me and the kids for Christmas.
I could cry - there are things in it I could never afford.

I have chatted to the kids about passing some of it on.
They don't want to, so we've agreed to buy an item each for the foodbank. They have chosen 'a big box of proper chocolate Weetabix' as normally we are Aldi's own cereal. They want to give other kids the chance to eat '5 chocolate Weetabix for breakfast'. So, 3 big boxes it is - about £10 worth - which is about what i can afford - my £10 Christmas bonus from the Govt due to my Carers allowance for them as they are both ASD (so they worried about the milk for the Weetabix)

It's amazing what one hamper can do :) spread the Xmas joy!

A friend of mine works for a local community church and they do a lot of work both via Christians Against Poverty (CAP) and independently in the community for families (of any/no religious persuasion) who are in need. They put together hampers including Christmas treats as well as the basics for people who would struggle to have much of a Christmas. I am completely non-religious but think a lot of churches do some very valuable work at this time of year to help families.

I'd suggest finding out if any of the local churches do something similar as they would be very grateful for it.

Bit virtue signally all this? Why post, just give it away to whatever cause you feel is fit?

It's not at all "virtue signally". I don't understand why some posters are being so arsey about this.

Pinboard that is really really lovely. I'm so glad you won the hamper

The chocolate weetabix thing is how I feel. We donate to food banks in accordance with their list of requested items but I would like to find a way to help with making Christmas a bit more special and out of the ordinary for children whose families can't afford to do this themselves. We also do a "buy a present for a child who won't otherwise get one" scheme but it's also the little things, like the chocolate weetabix, that are so exciting for them.

Keep the booze and take the rest to the food bank.

I'd go with option 3 and buy yourself a lottery ticket today as you seem to be on a winning streak!

Is it me or is it just so sad to think of how normalized the existence of food banks are now? It shouldn't be like this in a G20 country...

Startrek90 not just you. It's horrible.

option 4

I know startrek90 - it is awful. I'm shocked at how much a part of our lives they have become, it shouldn't be this way.

OP I expect you have decided now but let us all know what you did, as I am curious now It is very kind to donate it and hopefully whatever you do with the items, some people will be happy as a result. Win.