STAFF at Meredith Community Centre are encouraging people to get into the season of giving, having launched their Christmas Food Drive on Wednesday last week.<\/p>\n
As part of the initiative, the community is invited to drop off non-perishable Christmas foods like chocolates, puddings, and mince pies to the centre until the end of November.<\/p>\n
Centre manager Leah Phillips said the program is a great way to utilise their recently opened Meredith Mart food support space for the holidays.<\/p>\n
\u201cEverybody\u2019s doing it so tough lately,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to bring joy to everybody through Christmas and give everyone the opportunity to have some nice food for the festive season.”<\/p>\n
The food drive is replacing the centre\u2019s annual Christmas giving tree, which Ms Phillips previously ran for four years.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe giving tree is, I guess a little more expensive for people,\u201d Ms Philips said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo it\u2019s a changeup for money as well so people could afford to buy a little box of chocolates rather than buying something like a toy to put under the tree.\u201d<\/p>\n
From now until Thursday 30 November, people will be able to drop off items at the centre during operating hours from 9am to 3pm, Monday to Thursday.<\/p>\n
Once the drive is closed, the food will be shelved at the Meredith Mart the following week for people to anonymously collect items from, or nominate a struggling family to have the goods delivered to.<\/p>\n
Ms Phillips said the Meredith Mart has been a well-used asset since its establishment.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been amazing,\u201d she said. \u201cI can\u2019t believe how many families are using it, and it\u2019s so lovely to know we\u2019re ensuring people are getting food.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve done many, many orders with Foodbank [the mart\u2019s regular supplier]. We\u2019ve got to constantly restock the shelves and people are bringing in bits and pieces all the time.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was certainly a needed thing for the community.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
STAFF at Meredith Community Centre are encouraging people to get into the season of giving, having launched their Christmas Food Drive on Wednesday last week. As part of the initiative, the community is invited to drop off non-perishable Christmas foods like chocolates, puddings, and mince pies to the centre until the end of November. Centre […]<\/p>\n