Call out for Christmas toys

HEPBURN Regional Community Cheer is planning for its annual Christmas toy drive as the holiday season fast approaches.

The initiative runs alongside the organisation’s Xmas Cheer Day of Giving, which president Michelle Clifford said supported community members of all ages across the Shire.

“We give vouchers to every individual that comes through so they’re able to go and buy something yummy for their holiday period, and then we provide toys to every child that’s registered,” she said.

“HRCC is really relying on the kindness of people, and we do understand that everyone is doing it tough. We hope that people will come together to provide Christmas cheer for those who need it.

“We thought we’d get a bit of a head start, just in case, to allow people to go and buy gifts to donate onwards.”

As part of the program, new toys are given out to children aged one to nine years old, with unisex donations preferred.

Older kids up to 17 years of age receive vouchers to purchase gifts of their own choosing.

Over 800 community members received support during the holiday season last year, but Ms Clifford said the HRCC expected that number to rise after another challenging year marred by the pandemic

“We’re most definitely anticipating that the need for cheer will be increased. There are so many more people that have been having difficulties,” she said.

“We usually work in partnership with Variety, the children’s charity but they haven’t been able to do much fundraising themselves.”

Toys can be dropped off at the Daylesford Community Health Centre or Community Bank Daylesford District from late November and early December.