Cambridge Sustainable Food launches Winter Fundraiser Appeal 2024

SUPPORT CAMBRIDGE SUSTAINABLE FOOD’S WINTER APPEAL

Ensuring No Family Goes Hungry This Festive Season

“Christmas shouldn’t come with the burden of choosing between food and bills.”

As we approach the festive season, Cambridge Sustainable Food (CSF) is launching its 2024 Winter Fundraising Appeal to ensure that no family in our city faces hunger this winter and beyond. Rising living costs continue to put pressure on households, and many are forced to choose between food and essentials like heating. Together, we can change that.

Why We Need Your Help

We believe that everyone has the right to enjoy food together with family and friends at Christmas time. Sharing food is one of the things that brings us together in celebration - but in a city where life expectancy is around 10 years less in poorer neighbourhoods and one in five children are at risk of food poverty, the festive season can instead be a time of stress, isolation and going without. 

As winter approaches, the struggle only intensifies, and this year’s Winter Fundraising Appeal is more critical than ever. Your support can help ensure that no family in Cambridge goes hungry this festive season, relieving the burden of food insecurity.

How the 2024 Hampers Make a Difference

Cambridge Sustainable Food will be providing people with seasonal fresh fruit and veg to keep them nourished through the winter period, in a partnership project with Cambridge City Foodbank and the City Council. Last year, thanks to the generosity of the Cambridge community, we delivered over 800 hampers to families across the city. This year, with rising demand, we aim to reach over 900 families with provisions of festive food, toys and games, and seasonal fresh fruit and veg. These hampers provide more than food: they deliver care, kindness, and hope to families in need.

How you can help

CSF’s work isn’t just for the holiday season. By donating today you can make a meaningful difference to helping us tackle food poverty, inequality, and hunger all year round:

£20 will provide a family with fresh fruit and vegetables for the festive period and Christmas dinner

£50 will provide activities and holiday lunches for five children

£200 will redistrubute a tonne of surplus food to social projects

Year-Round Impact of our Work

CSF’s work isn’t just for the holiday season. Throughout the year, we provide crucial food support to over 3,250 people, helping them stretch tight budgets, access healthy meals, and feel less isolated. With your help, we can continue offering this essential support beyond the holidays, improving the health and resilience of our entire community.

Why Cambridge Sustainable Food?

CSF is uniquely positioned to tackle food insecurity and promote sustainable, fair food systems in Cambridge. Our award-winning work, recognised with the achieving the Sustainable Food Places Gold Award for Cambridge in 2024, demonstrates our commitment to building a healthier, more equitable city. Our vision is simple: a food culture that enhances the health and welfare of people, animals, and the environment.

Our efforts go beyond immediate hunger relief. Last year we:

  • Redistributed 187 tonnes of surplus food, preventing 56 tonnes of waste from going to landfill.

  • Educated 5,000 people about food justice, health, and climate issues.

  • Supported 8 food hubs in Cambridge that received 22,271 visits

  • Stopped 1,199 children going hungry by providing free lunches during the school holidays

  • Taught families how to cook nutritious meals on a budget.

What’s at Stake?

If we fail, vulnerable families, including children, will continue to face hunger. Food insecurity contributes to worsening physical and mental health, deepens social divides, and increases waste and environmental damage. Together, we can prevent this.

Join Us in Bringing Hope This Winter

Your support this winter will make a lasting impact. Every donation brings relief, and nourishment to those who need it most. Let’s ensure that no family in Cambridge goes hungry this Christmas. With your help, we can bring warmth, kindness, and hope to our neighbours in need.

To follow our fundraising campaign check out our Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn profiles.

Donate today to make a difference!

CSF Admin