Cana Communities will host a Christmas Party on Christmas Eve in Redfern Park. It’s a time for all to chill, share a meal and chat. It’s a huge event with over 400 people turning up each year. Everyone is welcome. Part of Cana’s mission is to “celebrate people”. Cana hopes to give a gift bag to each community member with the following items: tea, coffee, long-life milk, sugar, and a scratchie! As you can imagine, it’s a massive project and Cana would love it if you could volunteer to help by: purchasing one or all of the following items that make up a “goodie bag”; coming down to Redfern Park on Christmas Eve at 5pm for a short service, a meal and some merry-making with the community; purchasing one of Cana’s Christmas Cakes (proceeds will go toward funding the Christmas Party); sharing this information on Facebook/Twitter so that more people might help make this a special event. For more information please contact Julie Sneddon on 0414 649 153 or Anne Jordan on 0417 464 562.
The Vinnies Christmas Appeal helps many families and individuals each Christmas with financial assistance, clothing, utilities, food hampers and gifts for children. Last Christmas season Vinnies provided over $3.9 million worth of assistance to people in need in NSW, including over $2.1 million worth of assistance in food vouchers and parcels. Donations are gratefully received: www.vinnies.org.au/donate. If you or someone you know would appreciate a Christmas hamper this year, please contact Mick McIntyre on melvillest@hotmail.com. There are also opportunities to help with packing the hampers.
The Smith Family has a long and proud association with Christmas. The Smith Family’s Toy & Book Appeal is an opportunity to help bring a smile to a child’s face this Christmas. The Smith Family aims to deliver more than 43,500 new toys and 29,000 new books to children in need around Australia. Donations can be made at www.thesmithfamily.com.au.
Red Cross invites customers to visit their nearest Red Cross Shop to buy Kris Kringle gifts. Not only will you be supporting the great work of Red Cross, but you may even find the perfect novelty gift with hundreds of new and used items under $10. Just mention it’s a Kris Kringle and Red Cross will include a complimentary gift card with each purchase explaining that this gift is helping Red Cross help others. National Marketing Manager, Jayne-Anne Power, says Red Cross shop sales help support people during disasters, provide daily phone calls to check on the wellbeing of isolated or elderly Australians, and prepare nutritious breakfasts for children who need a healthy start to the day. If you still can’t find a suitable Kris Kringle, why not make a donation to the Red Cross Christmas Appeal and put the receipt in a decorated envelope! To find the location of your nearest Red Cross Shop, visit redcross.org.au or call 1800 339 888.
Since its humble beginnings as a back-lane barbecue, The Wayside Chapel Christmas Day Street Party has had one main objective – to bring the community together. Each year, Wayside puts on Christmas lunch with all the trimmings and fills the street with music and dancing. The event is a day for the whole community: 9-10.30am Breakfast; 10.30-11am Christmas church service; 11am-12pm Entertainment; 12-2pm Christmas lunch and entertainment. There are over 150 volunteer shifts on Christmas Day. Registrations can be made at www.thewaysidechapel.com.
