While the festive season is a time for many to celebrate with family and friends, others who are disadvantaged face the prospect of going without this Christmas.
Factor in the additional impact of COVID on people’s health and livelihoods and that makes the Inlife Turning Point Foundation’s Operation Christmas Hamper an ideal winner of the November round of Greater Bank’s #GreaterCentralCoast community funding program.
Inlife Turning Point Foundation receives $2000 for winning the public vote, while runners-up Faith In Action Ministries and Wyong Musical Theatre Company Inc both receive $500.
Operation Christmas Hamper founder, Sandra Piefke, says Inlife Turning Point Foundation performs a vital role in ensuring people don’t miss out.
“We aim to put food on the tables of the most disadvantaged over Christmas when welfare agencies are closed. A great many Coast families won’t have Christmas unless we help,” Sandra said.
“Since 2003, Operation Christmas Hamper has been providing hampers and toys to Salvation Army, St Vincent de Paul, Coast Shelter, neighbourhood centres, the area health service, foster care, emergency accommodation and those alone in nursing homes and retirement villages.
“That’s provided Central Coast community agencies and groups with more than 3,000 hampers, over 1,000 toys and 300 seniors’ hampers yearly until 2020 when, due to Covid restrictions, we provided “food only” gift cards instead of hampers along with toys.
“We are reliant on our partners and the community for funding support and donations of goods and food items. This contribution from Greater Bank is very welcome, especially considering the impact of COVID on our ability to raise funds and on the livelihoods of local families.”
Greater Bank’s Central Coast Regional Sales Manager, Josh Swetnam, said no-one should do it tough at Christmas.
“A significant portion of the community would go without the things many of us take for granted but for the great work of organisations like Inlife Turning Point Foundation,”
Josh Swetnam, Greater Bank's Central Coast Regional Sales Manager.
“We are delighted to be able to help them continue their mission to make Christmas a little brighter for Central Coast families in need.”
The December round of the #GreaterCentralCoast community funding program is now open, with River Cares Inc, Her Cave Incorporated and Tuggerah Lakes Junior Training Band competing for a share of $3,000 in monthly funding.
The public can cast their vote online at greater.com.au/greatercentralcoast. Voting for the December funding round opens on Monday 29 November and closes at 5:00pm, Wednesday, 22 December 2021.