“Give what you can”: Christmas Appeal gets underway

IT’S time to get into the spirit of giving as the Ballarat Christmas Appeal gets underway, ready to benefit local emergency relief agencies for another year.

All donations of money, non-perishables and unwrapped gifts will be distributed amongst clients of The Salvation Army, Uniting Ballarat, St Vincent de Paul Ballarat and Anglicare Ballarat.

Ballarat Foundation CEO Andrew Eales said there has been no reduction in the number of community members seeking emergency relief support since last year’s appeal.

“It’s food, housing, support to pay the bills that they need,” he said.

“It is concerning that we’re taking longer than we expected to rise from this cost of living crisis that we’ve been seeing for the last couple of years.

“But what we know about the Ballarat community is that when there’s need, people have been incredibly generous.

“Donations to the Ballarat Christmas Appeal have been really strong and we’re always so proud of that, even though times are tough.

“So many of us take the joy of Christmas for granted, and the reality is there are so many families that don’t have that same opportunity.

“When you support this appeal, it helps your neighbour, the person at your cricket club, the kids at your local school.

“All of the goods and donations stay right here in Ballarat. Please give what you can.”

Uniting Ballarat emergency relief coordinator Faith Thompson said the appeal’s support is essential each year.

“It’s amazing for all our consumers,” she said.

“It’s such a tough time of year for them, so to be able to help out with toys and vouchers to help get them through the period means the whole family has less pressure on them.

“Demand for support has increased from more families, not just single people. They’re reaching out for material aid, but covering the cost of food is difficult for people.”

Donations of non-perishables and wrapped gifts can be dropped off to community collection points in the coming weeks.

These include Anglicare, 3BA, Toyworld, and Hideaway Cafe in Brown Hill.

“We’ve been a drop-off point for the last two years and have had a really good response,” Hideaway owner Trudi Armstrong said.

“We’ve only been open three years but we’ve been so heavily supported by the community around us, so this is our chance to give back.

“We have lots of young families and children come through, and the appeal aligns with our business’s moral compass.

“We get a real Christmas tree, which will go up on the 1st of December. We make little shortbreads up for everyone who brings in a donation.”

Smith and Sons builders and Ballarat East Community Men’s Shed are building cubby houses which will be raffled, with all funds raised donated to the appeal.

Visit ballaratfoundation.org.au/christmas-appeal to donate online or fiind out more about the community collection points, and when they are open.