St Vincent de Paul volunteers Chris and Sheila and other local charity groups would welcome food donations for distribution to needy families in the buildup to Christmas. By Paul Dunlop
PAKENHAM charities are desperately seeking extra food to help needy people enjoy Christmas.
With the festive season prompting increased financial demands, it is a stressful time for many families and a hectic period for support organisations.
The 4Cs (Cardinia Combined Churches Caring) Food Bank and St Vincent de Paul are just two of the local organisations mustering their resources for what is the busiest part of the year.
St Vincent de Paul volunteers recently put out a call for donations to their food supplies, saying their cupboards were almost bare.
Food Bank coordinator Jeni Mathieson said the 4Cs also welcomed items as they worked to make up to 500 Christmas hampers to distribute to clients around Pakenham and throughout Cardinia Shire.
“We’re here to help, we want to help. We hate to think of anyone not having a nice Christmas,” Mrs Mathieson said.
Rotary has donated 150 cakes and puddings to the 4Cs and other festive items such as mince pies, tinned plum puddings and shortbreads were also most welcome, Mrs Mathieson said.
“It can be a tough time of year,” she said.
“Every parent wants to give their children a nice Christmas and part of the problem is that people want to go that step further. People in need should not feel embarrassed to come to us.”
St Vincent de Paul volunteer Kath, who did not wish to have her surname published for privacy reasons, said demand for food parcels and other support was as high as it had ever been.
“We help as many people as we can,” she said.
“Things have gone up, there’s no doubt about it.
“Christmas can be very demanding, people often have to choose between putting food on the table or buying a present for their child, it can be a stressful time for families.”
Kath said volunteers welcomed food donations as well as toys that could be passed onto families in Christmas hampers.
Pakenham residents are renowned for their generous community spirit.
As reported in last week’s News, Uniting Church minister Dick Johnstone received an overwhelming response to a recent trip to provide goodwill to farmers in the Mallee.
He said locals had flocked to donate food and household items to take with him.
Volunteers said the most helpful items were cereals, baked beans, long life milk, tea and coffee, tinned fruit, tinned soup, spaghetti, pasta sauce and biscuits.
A donation box has been put set up at the St Vincent de Paul shop in Main Street.
>>> For more information about how to donate items, contact the News on 5945 0621.
