Banbury fundraising duo teams up to donate 500 Christmas parcels

Rowan Ridley (left) and Prabhu Natarajan (right) first teamed up to fundraise last year

Two community organisations are working together to provide 500 Christmas food parcels for those in need.

The Lunch Box Project and Banbury Car and Bike Meet aim to raise £5,000 by 17 December, which they will spend on helping people in the Banbury area.

Their partnership started last year, when they raised £4,000 and provided 300 parcels.

Rowan Ridley, from Banbury Car and Bike Meet, said they would contain long life food and treats such as mince pies.

Last year, Prabhu Natarajan and Rowan Ridley (right) managed to organise 300 Christmas food parcels for those in need

Prabhu Natarajan founded the Lunch Box Project three years ago after he gave a bag of food to the bin men who served his road during the first lockdown in 2020.

Last year he met Mr Ridley, who organises the community event Banbury Car and Bike Meet.

As well as the food parcels, together they organised six months worth of fruit for Chasewell Nursery and support for families in need.

"This year, we are making 500 hampers to support more than 12 schools and many charity organisations who are looking for some donations," Mr Natarajan said.

Prabhu Natarajan (right) said that this year, the donations would include toys, as well as food

They plan to pack festive foods such as mince pies and Christmas pudding, as well as non-perishable goods such as pasta, rice and tinned foods.

Mr Ridley said: "Just because you're struggling financially, it doesn't mean that you shouldn't enjoy... those treats that Christmas day is about.

"This year we're also giving toys. I nearly got 100 brand new toys... that we will be putting in the hampers," Mr Natarajan added.

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