Toy drive takes off

DONATIONS are now being accepted for Uniting Emergency Relief’s Christmas toy drive to help families doing it tough this holiday season.

It’s the first time the Kangaroo Flat centre will run the initiative for the entire northern Bendigo region following the closure of the Forest Street facility earlier this year.

Coordinator, Max Blume, said the organisation was preparing to take on more donations than ever due to the change.

“We’re not quite sure how many presents we’ll need but it’ll be a lot more, probably up to about 300 or 400 at least,” he said.

While the centre provides relief to families in need all year round, Mr Blume said the toy drive was their biggest operation.

“It’s very important that children and families have a happy Christmas,” he said.

“For mums and dads, it affects them not being able to afford something for their children for Christmas.

“We help anybody that needs help, it doesn’t matter where they come from, we will help them.”

Federal member for Bendigo, Lisa Chesters, put her support behind the cause and encouraged the community to give what they could.

“Bendigo is a generous community. We take care of our own. For so many of us, it has been a difficult 18 months,” she said.

“Together we can help make this Christmas special for a local family worse off than our own.”

New toys or vouchers for kids up to 14 years old can be dropped off at the centre on the corner of Church and Camp Streets in Kangaroo Flat from 9am to 3pm on Tuesdays and Fridays, and 9am to 1pm on Thursdays.