Surf Coast program bringing joy to those falling on hard times

GIVING their children the Christmas they desire can be tough for some families, even more so following the year much of the community has endured, which makes the Adopt a Surfcoaster program even more important.

The Adopt a Surfcoaster program is all about providing the opportunity for families that may be doing it tough to enjoy the sort of Christmas every family deserves.

Founder of the program Gail Smaniotto said the program, which has been running for five years now, gives struggling families the chance to reach out and be anonymously connected with a fellow Surf Coast donor, who then buys gifts for the children.

Donors are given a list of a few of the interests of the children they are buying for to best provide an appropriate gift.

Ms Smaniotto and donor-come-helper Liza Graham then deliver the gifts on Christmas Eve.

“I think there will be a greater need this year… especially through COVID and what we’ve dealt with, a lot of people will have lost jobs and it will be hard for them,” Ms Smaniotto said.

“I wanted to create something that was community to community … nobody should go without at Christmas.”

The program brings plenty of joy to the lives of those who might be doing it tough, but also to those who donate, knowing the difference it will make.

Ms Smaniotto said the most important thing was to make reaching out as accessible as possible.

“I try to make it as anonymous and approachable as possible so people feel there is no judgement, your situation is your situation, it doesn’t matter,” she said.

“I think with the growth of the Surf Coast, we have such a diverse group of people… if somebody is so desperate they feel the need to ask you for something it’s quite a brave move to make, you’ve just got to respect their situation.”

Anyone in need of help or interested in further information about Adopt a Surfcoaster can do so by heading to the Facebook page at facebook.com/adoptasurfcoasterchristmas2020