| Christmas charity with a difference |
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| Tuesday, 18 December 2007 00:00 |
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This Christmas thousands of people across Australia will give their time and energy to carry messages of caring to people who are neither family nor friends. Christmas charity drives, conducted by churches and communities, are inspired and informed by the Christian tradition. Here we look at two examples of the Christmas spirit.
The Basket Brigade The Basket Brigade is a national project run by the Magic Moments Foundation of Australia, a not-for-profit volunteer-based organisation. The Basket Brigade has been in operation for 11 years. Cory Andrews, National Basket Brigade Coordinator, explains that a committee of volunteers is set up in a particular area to give Christmas hampers to the needy. The committee determines, “How many hampers they’re going to make, what the contents will be and who they’re going to distribute them to. We’ve got small brigades, made up of a husband and wife and a couple of friends, and we’ve got big brigades in Sydney and Melbourne with over 200 volunteers attending packing days,” says Cory. “To find families in need we use a lot of different resources in the community; everything from local support groups that support the families through the year, through to the larger church-based organisations." The committee also determines the process for filling the hampers. A number of states utilise facilities such as Foodbank, an organisation that distributes food donations. Committees may also seek donations directly from companies. The hampers almost always include a ham, a Christmas cake or pudding, and custard. Some have fresh fruit and vegetables depending on the climate and the capability to transport them. There are also age-appropriate presents included for children. Hampers are sometimes modified to suit cultural or religious needs. As an example, certain items not in keeping with their beliefs may be replaced with more suitable items in hampers going to Somali refugee families. Once all the goods are obtained, the packing begins. Packing days may be held in a community hall, a big factory, or someone’s garage. Everyone rolls up their sleeves to pack the hampers before the final stage of the process, when volunteers deliver the hampers to the selected families. Cory says the reaction from recipients varies but most families are pleasantly surprised and some are downright elated. In each hamper there is a note saying the hamper comes from people who care and encouraging the family to return the favour to someone else in need, if their circumstances improve in the future. “You hear amazing stories of people welcoming the volunteers in for cups of tea where they’re just so grateful. For some of the children, these are the only presents they’ll receive and they weren’t expecting any because sometimes the parents have prepared the kids saying, ‘We don’t have enough money to give you what your other friends at school get,’” says Cory, “You get these fantastic moments. It’s hard to explain but once you do it you’re hooked”. Cory says the Basket Brigade volunteers are “like-minded people getting together to have a good time and help people out and to get back to what is, for a lot of us, lost in the commercialism of Christmas”. NT Fire and Rescue Service Old-Age Pensioners Party The Northern Territory Fire and Rescue Service holds an annual Christmas old-age pensioners party in Darwin, an event with its roots in political turmoil. The luncheon, which has been running for 38 years, began in 1969 when the firies decided to give something back to the community to help lift their public profile following industrial relations tensions and strikes. Ian McLeod, a senior station officer in operations administration at Darwin Fire Department headquarters, has been in the service since 1967 and was therefore present during the humble beginnings of the luncheon. “The first one we had at the old Darwin Town Hall, which no longer exists,” he says, “About 40 pensioners turned up; we had as many firies as people turn up”. The lunch now attracts around 500 pensioners and has become a Darwin institution. It costs some $30k to host the event and the firies fundraise by doing bucket collections throughout Darwin. “The party is really put on by the people of Darwin and co-ordinated by the fire service,” says Ian, who participates every year, alongside his brother. “We get our enjoyment from the accolades we get from the pensioners. They’re always thanking us and we can see that they really enjoy themselves. It’s as good for us as it is for them.” The fare is varied and prepared with love. Fire fighters’ wives and community volunteers prepare salads with prawns, ham, turkey and pork. The firies themselves get down to business cooking the hot food — dishes include curried chicken, sweet and sour fish, beef and black bean sauce, noodles and rice. Drinks are served, entertainment is provided; everything from pipe bands to Maori dancers to Filipino singers to line dancers; and Father Christmas turns up to hand out a food hamper and an envelope containing $10 to each guest. Buses are dispatched to transport guests to and from the party, from all over town and as far as 40km out of Darwin. It’s a lot of work for the firies but they’ve discovered the pay off. “There’s a feeling we get that we’re doing something for other people,” says Ian, “It started off as a selfish way for us to lift our profile after industrial strife but since then it’s developed into something we strive hard to keep going because of the joy it gives to the old folks”. “I’m not a religious person,” he says, “But I picture old folks sitting at home with nothing to do. Some people tell us that this is the highlight of their year. They look forward to it. Part of our philosophy is that these people probably only get this quality of food once a year and we’re happy and proud to be able to give it to them. We keep this party going partly because of the warm feeling it gives us and partly because we believe we’re bringing a bit of joy into the lives of the older people of Darwin”. Uniting Church Christmas Events Below is a sample of what the Uniting Church in Australia offers the disadvantaged and marginalised in our communities at Christmas. Contact your local congregation or Synod to find out what's on near you and how you can get involved. NSW QLD SA VIC
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