Torquay Food Aid seeks donations for Christmas cheer

CHRISTMAS donations are starting to flow in on the Surf Coast and Torquay Food Aid is joining the festive cheer once again as part of its annual end of year donations drive.

Each year, Torquay Food Aid does a shop on one particular Wednesday at the end of the year to provide struggling families and individuals with extra food prior to Christmas.

President of Torquay Food Aid Michael Buckley said the group tries to organise a specially made Christmas hamper that is delivered to its long-standing clients.

“That Christmas hamper can be anything from cookies to shortbread to Christmas puddings,” Mr Buckley said.

“These are foods our clients don’t usually receive but we donate these foods to families as a little Christmas treat.

“We conduct a community call out for donations so the local community can help us buy these Christmas foods as well.”

Torquay Food Aid has been going for the better part of two decades 27 years ago, each year including a special Christmas shop by the charity organisation, a feat the president is profoundly proud of.

“It’s a fantastic tradition. Everything is there for our people, because without getting these extra items over Christmas, they may not get to experience any Christmas cheer,” Mr Buckley said.

“It’s a great way of getting the community to connect with one another at this time of the year by way of us and our volunteers love seeing the reactions on our recipients’ faces.”

Torquay Food Aid produces between 40 and 60 Christmas hampers each year to families and individuals and the group is hoping to raise that number for 2021.

Other foods that can be donated to Torquay Food Aid include long life custard, potato chips, chocolates, and soft drink.

There are two methods that community members can donate Christmas food to Mr Buckley and his group.

Donations can be dropped off to the group’s donations box at Torquay IGA near the entrance of Bakers Delight in Torquay or alternatively delivered to the Torquay Food Aid Centre between 11am and 1pm on a Wednesday at 2 Pimelea Way, Torquay.

If the donations are a large quantity, Torquay Food Aid can arrange for one of its volunteers to collect.

Head to Torquay Food Aid’s Facebook page for more information.