By NICOLE WILLIAMS
THE silly season is ramping up to be crazier than ever for Pakenham’s primary crisis relief centre.
4Cs is expecting to supply ‘hampers’ to 1200 people in time for Christmas, up from 1000 last year. But to make things complicated, the centre is running out of storage space and will instead shift the production to a room at Pakenham Racecourse to distribute the goods to families and individuals experiencing hardship.
4Cs manager Abiola Ajetomobi said more people were in need that ever before.
“There are a lot of economic changes happening and a lot of people are in need,” she said.
“And so many people who were not aware of us before.”
The racecourse will turn into a distribution centre on Wednesday 18 and Thursday 19 December, when families will line up to select the goods needed for a happy Christmas in their house rather than receiving a hamper, as in previous years.
“The people will come into the hall and the goods are lined up with volunteers ready to hand it all out,” she said.
“They can collect what they want and walk out the door.”
Donations of goods are still being received, and 4Cs is looking for 45 to 60 volunteers to help transport the goods, set up the distribution centre and hand out the goods.
Ms Ajetomobi said the centre was receiving calls and visits from people interested in volunteering, which was very positive.
Families and individuals experiencing hardship will need to register for assistance before 10 December by visiting the centre, between 9am and 3pm, with photo ID.
“We’d like people to come in and register. We don’t want people to just turn up on the day and miss out,” Ms Ajetomobi said.
The inaugural Cardinia Shire Mayoral Charity Dinner, held earlier this month, raised $10,000 to assist 4Cs with the Christmas hamper distribution.
At the dinner, 4Cs director Jeni Mathieson, spoke of families who had used the relief service in the past.
“I have been very touched over the years. Some parents come in distressed at Christmas and we see tears when we hand over a hamper and toys,” she said.
“We want to keep on giving. Christmas is supposed to be a joyful time. This is money well spent in the community.”
For more information about 4Cs crisis relief services, call 5941 2268 or drop into the centre at 5/114 Princes Highway, Pakenham between 9am and 3pm Monday to Friday.
