Christmas Cheer Appeal to help Bundaberg’s most vulnerable

Santa’s reindeer made an appearance at the 2023 Bundaberg Cheer Appeal, where dozens of volunteers came together for the community’s most vulnerable.

Bundaberg Mayor Jack Dempsey was one of dozens of volunteers pushing a trolley loaded with boxes for this year's most vulnerable.

The Christmas spirit was well and truly on display at this year’s annual Mayor Cheer Appeal event, with more than 60 volunteers packing hampers for 500 of the region’s most vulnerable.

The event, held at the Bundaberg Recreational Precinct on Tuesday, December 12, brought councillors, volunteers and charity workers together to pack hundreds of boxes with pantry staples from sugar and flour through to jam and pasta sauce.

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The 500 boxes will be distributed through local charities across the Bundaberg region, to those identified as most in need for a Christmas pick-up to get through the financially demanding holiday period.

CHRISTMAS SPIRIT: Dozens of volunteers either loaded boxes or made sure the food supplies on offer were ready for packaging.

St Vincent De Paul’s Childers volunteer Trish Clutterbuck spoke on the rise in homelessness and the pressures the ongoing cost-of-living crisis had placed on individuals, couples and families.

“We’re seeing people living in their cars, having to get out of rentals because rentals are too expensive, so they really need this system,” she said.

“We had figures from just recently where the people seeking assistance have risen 15 per cent, and 64 per cent of them have never asked for assistance before.”

Mrs Clutterbuck said recipients for the boxes were selected in a variety of ways, from those who called in asking for assistance to those who have received help from the charity in the past.

“Quite a number of them, when we do give them assistance, ask if they can get a hamper at Christmas time,” she said.

SANTA’S HELPERS: The arrival of two reindeers brought a joyful reprieve for the volunteers who took photos with the jolly visitors.

She said the event was a wonderful way to bring the community together, and allowed people who may not have the financial means to provide support to volunteer their time instead.

Mayor Jack Dempsey spoke on what it meant to see the event return, bigger and better than last year.

“The spirit of Christmas is alive and well and it is in the smiles and the hampers that are being prepared today for 500 families in need across the community,” Mr Dempsey said.

“It was 300 last year … a big thank you to all the volunteers, the youngsters and the young at heart here helping out.”