Festive toys drive aims to ease Christmas pressure

THE Kangaroo Flat Uniting Church annual Christmas toy drive is now accepting donations.

Run in cooperation with the Uniting Church and Federal Member for Bendigo, Lisa Chesters, the effort is now in its 10th year.

The toy drive aims to help families in need with the cost of Christmas.

Coordinator at Uniting Bendigo, Max Blume, has been working to improve the lives of children in the community for the past 25-years and said the toy drive is a marvellous initiative.

“If for example they didn’t get the presents, Christmas would not be Christmas,” he said.

“Without seeing your children there underneath the tree day grabbing their Christmas presents, laughing, it just makes a lot of difference.

“We also help with the Christmas food as well, we make sure the whole family gets benefit not only just the children,” he said.

Mr Blume said demand for support this Christmas would be greater given the rise in living costs, a sentiment that was echoed by Lisa Chesters.

“We know that cost of living is tough, and times are really dire for people,” she said.

“If we can help people have those toys under the Christmas tree, ready for Christmas day then it just means there’s a little bit more joy in everybody’s lives come Christmas day.”

This year the Uniting Church is seeking new, unwrapped toys for newborns to 14 year olds, as well as non-perishable and specialty Christmas food items.

Toys can be dropped off at the Y Services club at 10 Lockwood Road in Kangaroo Flat from 9am to 2.30pm Tuesdays and Fridays.