Christmas is only three weeks away—here’s how to help those who need it most
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Nobody panic, but Christmas is only three weeks away—and as our thoughts turn to the holiday of giving, why not make this year extra special by bringing a little bit of magic to vulnerable members of the community?
After another tough year, Christmas is the perfect time to reflect and give a little to those in the Canberra community who need it most—people who struggle to make ends meet, women and children fleeing domestic violence, and people at risk of homelessness—especially as they face higher pressures than usual to put food on their tables and buy gifts for their loved ones.
After all, as the coordinator of the Communities at Work Christmas Appeal, Trevor Gilbertson says, everyone deserves a Christmas.
Last year the Communities at Work Christmas Appeal helped hundreds of families in the Canberra community have a merry Christmas after receiving almost 10,000 donations of gifts and food. And this year, they need organisations and communities to dig deep and do it again.
But how can you help?
Play Santa and find a new home for (non-perishable) food items and gifts
According to Trevor, one of the best ways to give back this year is to play Santa and find a new home for (non-perishable) food items and gifts—and that’s only the beginning.
“Whatever people can provide, we gladly accept. Unfortunately, there are always people in need, and this year, with the rising cost of living, things are getting tougher,” he says.
“We’re very appreciative of how the Canberra community steps up and supports us and other organisations who are helping people that need assistance.”
Collecting food, gifts, toys, or gift cards for children, teenagers and adults (who are often forgotten during Christmas), the Communities at Work Christmas Appeal displays the items in specially decorated rooms located in the Gungahlin and Tuggeranong Community Centres, called “Christmas Caves”.
“People visit the Caves from early December and choose what they need for their family,” says Trevor.
“It’s very much about providing opportunities for people to choose what they need and want to give to their families.”
By donating gifts (or even money or gift cards), it takes some of the anxiety out of celebrating Christmas for these families—and keeps the magic alive.
“Seeing the gratitude on people’s faces when they leave our Christmas Caves with presents—and knowing that we’ve eased their anxiety and brought the joy back into Christmas for them, makes it incredibly rewarding.” says Trevor.
For those who want to get more people involved in a good cause, Communities at Work is encouraging workplaces, businesses and community groups to host a ‘Giving Tree’—a Christmas drive to raise funds or collect donations of food and gifts.
With the choice of a virtual tree (where you can share a link to the Communities at Work donation page) or a more traditional giving tree, it’s an easy way to get into the Christmas spirit. But hurry – there’s only a few weeks left!
Pack the bus (full of presents)
Everyone deserves a Christmas with presents—and this year Communities at Work is once again partnering with radio station MIX106.3 to make donating even easier.
Pack the Bus is MIX106.3’s community fundraising drive, where a big, eye-catching and festive Transport Canberra bus drives around the region, making stops at places that have registered on their website. MIX106.3 helpers fill the bus full of essential non-perishable food items and toys for kids and families in need.
Visiting workplaces, retail outlets and schools every weekday between 9 am and 3 pm from Monday 28 November until Friday 16 December, according to Zak Davies—the program coordinator—the idea was to make donating food and unwrapped toys at Christmas time even easier.
“COVID has changed how these collections traditionally work with many organisations shying away from donation trees, for example. So we decided to bring the collection point to them!” he says.
“This means that schools and work groups can make donations by putting them directly on the bus. People love seeing the big bright bus parked outside their front door. It also means that we can deliver the goods straight to Communities at Work, allowing them to distribute the donations to families through their Christmas Caves.”
Last year, the initiative saw the bus filled with 6,500 donations—and this year MIX106.3 and Communities at Work are aiming to double this number with the help of the Canberra community.
“It’s a lofty goal, but I reckon we’re up to it,” says Zak.
“It’s not only great for the community, but for workplace morale too. Our staff absolutely love being involved! Sometimes it’s a balancing act to run a radio station when everyone’s trying to get on the bus when it rolls up in the morning to load up with helpers for the day. And the Transport Canberra drivers are queuing to get on the ‘Pack the Bus’ roster. There’s even talk of having to run a ballot system!”
But wait—there’s myrrh (get it?)
If you want to give back this Christmas, there are plenty of other ways to get involved with Communities at Work—from giving gift cards, to doing your own online shopping and getting items delivered to Communities at Work, to volunteering, to simply sharing news of the Christmas Appeal with your own networks.
No matter what you choose to do, your donations, time and goodwill will bring a happier Christmas to those who need it most. After all, it is the most wonderful time of the year.
