By Renee Wood
HICCI has started providing Christmas hampers to local families after community and businesses have generously donated to the appeal.
Up to 170 hampers will be given to locals with a room also filled with donated toys that families can choose children’s gifts from.
Emergency Relief Manager Sheree Laumen said this year’s appeal is a smaller scale than usual but the team has done their best to provide something to those in need.
“We recognise it’s a special time of year so we do our best to have something happening and with all the great stuff from the community, we’ve been able to put together a good program so every family will get a hamper and children will get a gift voucher and a toy,” Ms Laumen said.
There were earlier concerns about the appeal being in jeopardy due to the reduction of available funds from a lack of opportunity to fundraise in recent years however, Ms Laumen said support has ramped up in the last two weeks.
Ms Laumen said items and monetary donations have been received by local churches, donation giving boxes and business donations.
Local residents have also spent time making items such as wooden trucks and knitted toys for Santa sacks.
“We appreciate even the tiniest little thing that comes in because it all makes a big difference and you can see the joy that it brings people to give and know that they’re helping a family that’s doing it tough. It’s blessings for both, the receiver and the giver.”
St Brigid’s students also attended HICCI to help package up the hampers.
“It’s a real team and community effort and it’s wonderful to be able to bless people because it’s not always a fun time of year for people that don’t have family.
“We have a lot of single people who don’t have anybody, so if that little parcel brings them a bit of Christmas cheer, that’s a great thing.
“It helps them to know that they’re not completely alone, that there’s some people that care about them.”
