Basket Brigade 2008

It's Basket Brigade time again.

We need YOUR help (please)

Basket-Brigade

What is Basket Brigade?

Basket Brigade is a voluntary organisation, supported by YES-groups, set up 15 years ago to help ensure that families in need at Christmas are supported and reminded that they are not alone. Over the years we have anonymously gifted hundreds of families with baskets containing food and toys to enjoy over the holiday season.
This event is held on a much bigger scale each year in London go to www.basketbrigade.co.uk for more information.

In Scotland, we voluntarily collect cash and food, and package them into food parcels to anonymously donate at Christmas-time to families in need.

How YOU can help

See the Agenda below

History

It all started with the motivational leader Tony Robbins. Tony shares a very personal and heart-warming story of how he was the beneficiary of an anonymous food-parcel when the family most needed it.

Now, years later, the "Basket Brigade" concept grows from strength to strength as more people around the world appreciate the abundance around their own lives and wish to "give back".

In Scotland, as founder and Chairman of YES-Scotland, I decided to start the Basket Brigade campaign in Scotland, and to my delight I discovered others were already ahead of me in many ways.

Until we have more support in the West of Scotland, the focus over the last few years has been mostly in the Edinburgh area.

As ever, I would be delighted to receive your support and also assist anyone else that wishes to emulate this concept in other areas.

This year again, we are planning to feed 200+ families
at christmas time in the Edinburgh area.
Do you want to help?

What you could do:

Volunteer to start a collection of non-perishable food items at your work, church or social organisation. Run it from Dec 1st to December 16^th
Volunteer to help pack boxes 5pm-9pm on the following evenings 17^th, 18^th, 19^th December
Volunteer to help deliver goods (Saturday, December 20^th)
Volunteer to collect money so we can buy products on behalf of the campaign
Send this email to your friends and family to help us spread the word
Suggest addresses where you know someone would benefit from this gift

If you are unable to help with any of the above suggestions perhaps you would like to make a donation to the campaign and we will shop on your behalf:

We are collecting donations NOW

you may contribute financially here

~~~~~~~~~~

AGENDA
December 17^th, 18^th, 19^th - Packing Nights
at Scottish Widows' offices, 60 Morrison Street, Edinburgh.
5pm-9pm

Sunday 20th December, anonymous deliveries 10am - 1pm
Lorna McKinlay has volunteered to co-ordinate the drivers on the day 20th December.
Meeting at Scottish Widows' offices, 60 Morrison Street, Edinburgh

~~~~~~~~~~

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Financial Contributions - Your financial contributions will be gratefully received.
With your help, we can buy food and goodies for those in need.

Food and Toys Contributions - You can join our campaign and create your own office campaign; (for example; one major financial institute in Edinburgh have successfully been donating boxes of food and gifts to us every year, simply by inviting staff to donate ONE item each into the boxes) - can YOU do this in YOUR working environment?

"You CAN make a difference. Bring a CAN to work day"

Please note; Christmas is FAST approaching.
We want your contributions asap.

Help us find addresses to deliver to - Those who REALLY need help, rarely ask!
Believe it or not, we often find big challenges in getting the addresses of needy people. If you can help or have a contact that can help,
we would REALLY appreciate it.

As many of you know, I am living a dream and travelling Europe this year therefore, Laura McGregor has volunteered to co-ordinate this year’s Basket Brigade.

Please contact her at; laura.mcgregor@swip.com or 0131-655-2519 / 07725589353 - Any cheques are to be made payable to "Laura McGregor" and sent to; Scottish Widows Investment Partnership, 60 Morrison Street, Edinburgh, EH3 8BE.

She will be able to provide any additional information and is also co-ordinating the volunteer effort. So let her know ASAP, how you’re going to support families that need your help and support this holiday season.

Suggested Items for Collection

Cereal

Tins of meat

Tins of Soup

Tins of Custard

Sweet Goodies

Christmas pudding

Biscuits

Chocolates

Tins of Vegetables

Package Stuffing

Package Mash