By Eleanor Wilson
Santa will be making a special visit to the City of Casey later this week as the Narre Warren CFA spreads Christmas cheer with its annual Santa Run.
Families across Berwick and Narre Warren are encouraged to make the trip to their local park for the opportunity to meet the big man in red.
This year, the gift of giving is a two-way street, with Santa and his elves towing a tinseled-out trailer for families to fill with goods for those in need.
Donating to emergency food relief organisation Transit Outreach, the brigade is looking for non-perishable food items to gift to families in need this festive season.
Transit Outreach coordinator Reverend Keith Vethaak said the Narre Warren based not-for-profit is currently feeding upwards of 1500 people each week.
“The last couple of months the demand has escalated enormously…we’re noticing huge queues of people waiting to pick up food,” he said.
He said the CFA’s food drive will help bridge the gap between supply and demand for the charity.
“It’ll just help up having enough groceries to give out…for the first time ever we’re having to limit the number of groceries people can pick up, just so there’s enough to go around,” Rev Vethaak said.
“We have lots of families that are coming to us saying they just have no money to buy anything for their children for Christmas. We’re seeing that much more than previous years.”
Narre Warren CFA wellbeing officer Anastasia Barker said the brigade is also accepting Transit donations at its CFA station up until Christmas.
Donations can be given to staff on duty at the station, or can be placed in the donation box located out the front of the station.
Santa and his elves will embark on the Narre Warren CFA’s Santa Run on Saturday 17 and Wednesday 21 December at the following locations:
Saturday 17 December
5.30pm – 5.50pm Ray Bastin Reserve (Pocket Park)
6pm – 6.20pm Wood Road Reserve
6.30pm – 6.50pm Berwick Springs Playground
7pm – 7.20pm Berwick Springs Junior Football Club
7.30pm – 7.50pm Casey Central Park
Wednesday 21 December
5.30pm – 5.50pm Oakgrove Community Centre
6pm – 6.20pm Lake View Drive Park
6.30pm – 6.50pm Kershaw Drive Reserve
7pm – 7.20pm The Common Reserve
7.30pm – 7.50pm Narre Warren South Football Club
