Xmas Hamper

[vernonk]

If you were to make up your own hamper as a gift for a man who is down on his luck with very little money, what food would you put in it? No point suggesting giving him money instead as it'll be squandered

[ummmm]

How much have you got to spend.

[vernonk]

Let's say £150 max

[ummmm]

That's not a hamper...that's a couple of weeks shopping!!

Why don't you make a nice hamper of cheese/pate/crisp breads/chutney...a nice bottle of something...and put in some supermarket vouchers.

[ummmm]

Very kind of you btw...

[Islay]

I would either do as ummm suggests or actually arrange for some shopping to be delivered to him.

[EDDIE51]

Does he have cooking facilities ? Or does it have to be 'ready to eat'?

[Tilly2]

....and can he cook?

[cashier]

I'd go for tins of meat, tomtoes beans and soups. Coffee, biscuits perhpssome eggs and something 'treat' style as Ummmm suggested.

[vernonk]

Not sure but I suspect the answer to both questions is basic

[EDDIE51]

You really need to find out what if any cooking facilities he has, it makes a lot of difference.
No point giving him things like fresh meat and veg if he can't or won't cook it! Also has he got a fridge or a freezer to store food?

[Islay]

does he have a freezer?

[Mamyalynne]

Eddie's points are sound, I agree with the others too.

I'd do a shop of mostly basics to fill up the cupboards then add a few luxuries for over the festive week.

[woofgang]

with that much money for a bloke on his own, you could do him a small treaty hamper for christmas and put a note in it saying that he will get shopping delivered for the four weeks of january....but yes you need to know about his facilities and think about what he would cook.

[EDDIE51]

^^ Yes I'd split it up into 4 hampers at £35 each one a week for a month.
If he can cook and has cooking facilities a £35 hamper would easily feed him for a week.
Still really do need to know about cooking and storage though to come up with proper suggestions.

[Jennykenny]

At the end of the day you're doing a good thing.

[Islay]

veronk - this is very kind of you.

My step sister lost her job - managed to get another one but was left a bit short - so I did a Tesco shop and chucked in a few luxuries, it cost me £75 and that lasted her 3 weeks.

[237SJ]

Canned meat, canned salmon, chutney, pate, honey, jam/marmalade, waxed cheese, nice soups, pasta sauces, pataks curry jars