Story
ABCD (Alone Behind Closed Doors) was born from my own 35-year battle with depression. I know what it feels like to be overwhelmed at Christmas.. I didn’t want my pain to be wasted — I wanted something good to come from it.
That’s why I started ABCD: to turn pain into purpose, and to bring hope, dignity, and relief to families silently suffering.
My Story – Why I Started ABCD
For years, Christmas was the hardest time for me. I lost my mum when I was just 17, and that first Christmas without her was so painful — but it never got easier. Childhood trauma and grief became the triggers for the depression I battled with for over 35 years.
There were many Christmases when I spent the day in bed, too low and too exhausted to join in or even cook. If someone had given me a hamper, then, as kind as the gesture would have been, much of it would have gone to waste. I didn’t eat turkey, Brussels sprouts or Christmas pudding — the typical contents of a “traditional” hamper.
That’s why ABCD does things differently. We personalise every hamper. We listen to each family’s cultural background, dietary needs, and personal preferences. We add surplus food because we’re not just feeding someone for Christmas Day — we want them to have enough to get through Boxing Day, New Year's, and the difficult days in between.
For people suffering with mental health issues, soup kitchens and community meals can be wonderful — but for some, leaving the house feels impossible. And coming home after a meal can intensify the loneliness. A personalised hamper delivered to their door means they can eat in their own space, feel cared for, and know they are not forgotten.
ABCD was my way of finding purpose in my pain. Now, with your help, we can bring hope and dignity to so many more families who feel alone behind closed doors
What We Do
ABCD is not just a Christmas project — it’s year-round support for individuals and families struggling with mental health and financial hardship. We provide:
🧡 Personalised Food Hampers – tailored to each family’s cultural and dietary needs so nothing goes to waste, and no one feels invisible.
🛠️ Home Maintenance – practical help for families living in poor or unsafe conditions.
💬 Counselling – access to funded or subsidised mental health support.
At Christmas, our work intensifies. For many families, this season brings not joy but pressure, loneliness, and despair. Our personalised hampers are filled with enough food for up to a week, plus extras like children’s gifts, nappies, and clothes where needed. They are more than food — they are compassion in action.
Why This Matters
In mental health, one size does not fit all. Each person’s journey is unique, and by tailoring our support, we honour their individuality.
ABCD exists to:
💜 Help people feel seen, heard, and valued
💜 Reduce stress during overwhelming times
💜 Preserve dignity and respect
💜 Build trust and emotional connection
When you’ve battled with mental health, even small acts of compassion can change everything. That’s why we listen to each family’s needs and meet them where they are.
Our Impact
Since then, ABCD has grown, with 80% of our referrals now coming through schools and social services.
Families have told us our hampers gave them hope, lifted their spirits, and encouraged them to seek further support.
One parent said:
“It wasn’t just the food — it was knowing someone cared enough to ask what we needed. That gave me the strength to keep going.”
Your Donation = Real Change
Your support allows us to continue bringing hope, dignity, and relief to people suffering behind closed doors.
💜 Your donation helps us fill a family hamper with enough food for the whole festive season.
💜 Your support allows us to provide gifts for children and other essentials like nappies and clothes.
💜 Your support helps us provide counselling for adults and children.
💜 Your support helps us provide home maintenance for struggling families.
Together, we can make sure no one feels forgotten this Christmas.
Real Stories of Impact
💬 “I cried when I opened the hamper. It was everything my kids love, not just what people thought we should have. For once, I didn’t feel forgotten.”
💬 “Having food in the house beyond Christmas Day made such a difference. It lifted a huge weight off my shoulders.”
This Christmas, you can be the reason someone feels seen, valued, and cared for. Please donate today. Your contribution can save a life, transform a family, and remind someone that they are not alone.
👉 Donate now and join us in making a lasting difference.
