As the festive season nears, City of Mount Gambier Mayor Lynette Martin encourages the local community to consider the less fortunate by providing a donation to the 2023 Mount Gambier Community Mayor\u2019s Christmas Appeal.<\/p>\n
Demand for assistance from local support agencies is expected to be greater than ever this Christmas due to increasing cost of living pressures.<\/p>\n
\u201cChristmas is not always a happy time for everyone in our community and as Mayor, I would like to work towards ensuring that we enable as many people as possible to experience the joy of Christmas,\u201d Mayor Martin said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thank the agencies for the role they play in our community throughout the year and for joining with me at Christmas time to provide food hampers, gifts and vouchers to those in need.\u201d<\/p>\n
The local community raised more than $40,000 for the appeal last year, which is distributed to local support agencies including Uniting Care, ac.care, St Vincent de Paul and The Salvation Army to provide food hampers, vouchers and gifts through the Christmas Cheer program. Collectively, the agencies assisted approximately approximately 728 adults, 219 teenagers and more than 481 children in 2022.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe agencies have advised me that the number of requests for assistance they are receiving on a daily basis has increased and therefore they predict the demand for this Christmas will be greater than ever before in the history of the appeal,\u201d Mayor Martin said.<\/p>\n
\u201cDonors to the appeal have been so generous over the past few years but if the need for assistance keeps rising we may struggle to meet the demand and therefore I urge you to consider donating whatever you can.\u201d<\/p>\n
ac.care Homelessness and Community Services Senior Manager Trish Spark encouraged anyone who may find themselves struggling financially this Christmas to register for support from the appeal by visiting or contacting ac.care or the other supported agencies.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are expecting the levels of demand to be higher this year due to cost of living,\u201d Ms Sparks said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are currently assisting people with food and utilities bills that we haven\u2019t seen before.<\/p>\n
\u201cMany people who are just able to manage throughout the year without support will also be requiring assistance at Christmas as they don\u2019t have that extra money for toys and Christmas food.\u201d<\/p>\n
The City of Mount Gambier supports the Mount Gambier Community Mayor\u2019s Christmas Appeal by acting as a collection point for the agencies.<\/p>\n
Donations can also be made through the following channels:<\/p>\n