Associations sign-up early to spread the Christmas spirit

The Australian Institute of Packaging (AIP), the Australian Packaging and Processing Machinery Association (APPMA) and the Supply Chain and Logistics Association of Australia (SCLAA) will join forces again this year to help ensure families in need get to experience some Christmas cheer.

The three organisations have announced they will team together for the fourth consecutive year to help pack Christmas hampers for hunger relief organisation Foodbank.

On December 6, volunteers from the groups will spend the day at Brisbane's Victoria Barracks, at Spring Hill, packing over 600 hampers to distribute to those in need at Christmas.

The packing of the hampers is a culmination of twelve months of work, over $60,000 worth of goods raised to go inside the hampers, and generous support from many companies across the country. Each hamper is worth $100 and is made up of food and personal hygiene products.

Over the past three years the AIP, SCLAA and APPMA teams have packed 1800 hampers to the value of over $180,000.

“The 600 hampers that the AIP, SCLAA and APPMA pack each year are distributed to families in crisis at Christmas time and while none of those who pack the hampers will ever meet the receivers, everyone who participates should be extremely proud of what you do,” the general manager of Foodbank Queensland, Ken McMillan, said.

The AIP is currently seeking donations for food, beverage and personal hygiene products to help fill the hampers. It asks anyone with such items to donate, or who would like to join in the 6 December packing event, to email nerida@aipack.com.au or phone the AIP on 07 3278 4490.