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Get into the Christmas spirit and give
5 Nov 2009
Whitehorse residents and workers can help those in need this Christmas with a gift to the City of Whitehorse’s Donation Tree Appeal.
Whitehorse Mayor Councillor Helen Harris OAM said Christmas was a great time to give to those less fortunate than ourselves.
“The demand for help requested across Whitehorse has increased in recent years, as has the number of people experiencing homelessness,” Cr Harris said.
Whitehorse Council will collect goods on behalf of the Eastern Emergency Relief Network (EERN) for distribution to individuals and families before Christmas.
“More than 120 welfare agencies in the eastern suburbs refer clients to the EERN, which runs a large warehouse in Mitcham,” Cr Harris said.
EERN spokesman Keith Rooney said the network provided 320 Christmas hampers in 2008 and even more would be needed this year.
“Demand has grown every year since we started and we now assist people from Boroondara all the way to the Upper Yarra Valley,” Mr Rooney said.
Donations of food for Christmas hampers and new goods, such as toys and clothing, are welcome.
The network is particularly in need of gifts for 12 to 14 year olds such as movie vouchers, clothes and accessories, and something for mothers.
Gifts can be left under the Christmas tree at any one of Council’s three Customer Service Centres at the Whitehorse Civic Centre in Nunawading, Forest Hill Chase Shopping Centre or Box Hill Town Hall from mid-November.
Residents have until Tuesday 22 December to donate a gift in support of the annual Christmas appeal, which is now in its seventh year. Cash donations to the EERN are also welcome and are tax deductible.
Last year the EERN assisted 2800 families in eastern Melbourne. Sixty volunteers work at the warehouse each week sorting through donations and putting together hampers and other assistance packages.
For more information on the City of Whitehorse Donation Tree Appeal, phone 9262 6333. To make a donation to the EERN, phone 9874 8433.
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