The campaign is helping those in need this Christmas
For many people, Christmas means routines, full cupboards and family gatherings. At Hosford Homeless Hostel in East Belfast, it is often the most difficult time of year for residents who have lost stability, connection or a safe place to call home.
Hosford has supported people through these moments for more than 30 years, offering emergency accommodation along with wraparound services including mental health and addiction support, tenancy advice and community outreach. Their 19-strong team works with people facing complex challenges, helping them move towards secure, independent living.
Food insecurity has become one of the most pressing pressures on the hostel. Rising costs mean more people arriving with empty cupboards or struggling to afford basic items. As staff put it, “demand just keeps rising”. That is where FareShare NI, supported every Christmas by Translink ’s Stuff a Bus campaign, has become vital.
Staff say clients can be overwhelmed with emotion when they receive a hamper, with some describing it as a lifesaver. It is not only the food itself but the stability and dignity it represents during a difficult period.
READ MORE: Translink’s Stuff a Bus takes the wheel in fight against hunger this ChristmasREAD MORE: Mallusk hub fighting food poverty across Northern Ireland as winter demand looms
For many residents, Christmas can amplify loneliness, financial strain or family breakdown. Creating small moments of comfort becomes an important part of Hosford’s December work.
All donations gathered through Stuff a Bus are collected and distributed by FareShare NI, enabling organisations like Hosford to prepare Christmas hampers, shared meals and festive treats. A warm dinner or a small box of treats can lift someone’s mood and, for some, may be the first positive moment they have had in months.
The annual Stuff a Bus campaign, led by Translink in partnership with FareShare NI and media partners Belfast Live and U105, turns public generosity into meaningful support. Every tin, packet or financial donation goes directly towards helping people across Northern Ireland, including those settling into Hosford after periods of crisis.
Hosford’s team say that without FareShare and the support strengthened by Stuff a Bus, they would struggle to meet rising demand. The food they receive helps bring people together, especially at Christmas when it matters most.
The campaign is built on thousands of small acts that add up to real impact. And in a year when more families are facing hunger, its return could not be more timely.
For those donating, it may feel like a simple gesture. For someone at Hosford, it can mean warmth, dignity and the reassurance that they have not been forgotten.
If you would like to support this year’s Stuff a Bus campaign, you can donate food or make a monetary contribution at any of the regional collection days across Northern Ireland or join the final collection event at Belfast Grand Central Station on Thursday 18th December.
Full details, including online monetary donations, are available at stuffabusni.com.
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