General News
20 November, 2020
Locals encouraged to give a helping hand this Christmas
LOCALS can help bring joy to a family or individual who may be doing it tough this Christmas in Corangamite Shire through A Helping Hand.
LOCALS can help bring joy to a family or individual who may be doing it tough this Christmas in Corangamite Shire through A Helping Hand.
A new online community – dubbed ‘A Helping Hand’ – has been created to find out how residents can help someone in need locally in a practical way.
The volunteers are aiming to ensure local kids can trust that Santa can fulfil their Christmas wish and everybody in the community is able to have a Christmas meal this year.
A Helping Hand will connect requests from local community organisations with community members and local businesses who wish to help a family or individual this Christmas.
A Helping Hand volunteer Elise McKinnon said all local health organisations, schools and other community groups can list the needs of those in their care through A Helping Hand.
She said the community can then see what they can do to assist including providing Christmas meal hampers, Santa wishes and basic living needs.
“It will shine a light on the incredible work that is already being done by our local organisations and schools and empower the community to get involved and support their efforts,” Ms McKinnon said.
St Vincent’s Camperdown volunteer Mary Brown said the Christmas Wishing Tree is now up at Woolworths in Camperdown and this year there will be other Wishing Trees located in towns across Corangamite Shire.
“We know that Christmas can be a very hard time for many people in our community but this year it’s especially important we help our neighbours for Christmas as many more people are experiencing isolation and financial stress due to COVID-19,” she said.
“Our volunteers at Vinnies haven’t been able to meet in person and visit locals who may need extra support so it’s wonderful that A Helping Hand can assist us this year with our Wishing Tree at Woolworths”
Mrs Brown said in particular, volunteers will do their best to give children at least one gift they have asked Santa for.
“We can’t imagine how hard it would be as a parent finding it difficult to put food on the table let alone give your child the dream of a present from Santa,” she said.
Vinnies have opened their Wishing Trees to all community organisations who care for vulnerable families and children so they can provide their children gifts for those they care for through A Helping Hand.
Manager of Camperdown and Lismore Community Health Sue Ryan expects this Christmas to be more challenging for families.
“Many families have lost work, or casual hours, had increased school costs for home schooling, increases in cost of living and utility prices so it will be so much more difficult to find the money for gifts and food,” she said.
“To receive gifts through the Wishing Tree is a symbol that someone has thought about a family and cared and that means a lot.
Ms McKinnon encouraged any local health organisations, schools and other community groups to get in touch so we can list the needs of those in their care.
She said the community can respond and offer to fulfil the need bringing joy to someone in our community this Christmas.
“We will be encouraging those who are donating goods to purchase locally where they can, to support our local small business owners as well,” Ms McKinnon said.
“The requests will be placed on wishing trees in our community and shared online with our Facebook community where people can select a need they can fulfil.
“There will be designated drop off points for those wishing to assist.”
She said families who need an extra helping hand this Christmas, could reach out and ask for help.
“Your community is here for you. Just ask your local healthcare agency, school or other community organisations who can all register needs with A Helping Hand,” MsMcKinnon said.
“Please be assured that maintaining the privacy of all people is of paramount importance to us, and we require no identifying details of any person we hope to help through our local agencies.
“Students at Deakin University are helping to develop the ahelpinghand.com.au Christmas website. This will be going live at the end of November. In the meantime, please visit us at our Facebook page or please collect a request from the Wishing Tree.
For businesses and families who would like to help someone in the community visit A Helping Hand Corangamite on Facebook or email us at info@ahelpinghand.com.au.
