Homeless advocacy group preps for massive Christmas Day event

A homeless advocacy group is working with Bundaberg council and the community to host a free and festive Christmas Day event for the region’s most vulnerable.

Homeless advocate Shayler McRae is working with the community to bring a festive feast to the region’s most vulnerable.

The people behind one of the region’s most respected homeless advocacy groups have come forward with the support of the community to prepare a free festive feast to be held on Christmas Day for those less most vulnerable.

Founder of the Facebook group Helping the homeless and vulnerable, Bundaberg Shayler McRae, said the idea for the event grew from their annual Adopt-A-Family Christmas initiative.

The Facebook group, which has more than 3000 members was created by Miss McRae in 2022 after noticing dozens of posts calling for support across several community forums.

When it was first developed, Miss McRae said the group was supporting five to six known homeless men and women, a number which has now grown to include dozens of families and those finding themselves in and out of tough times due to the cost-of-living crisis.

The Christmas lunch event was backed by Bundaberg local Ian Brookfield, who has a built a multi-burner cooker, fridge and bain marie for the event.

Shayler McRae is organising the event with the help of generous locals.

Mr Brookfield spoke on being a major force behind bringing the event to life.

“I’m doing it because I can,” he said.

He said the event will set itself apart from other initiatives of its kind, offering table service instead of forcing attendees to line up.

The event, which will be held at the Alexandra Park Zoo undercover parklands is expected to provide more than 1000 people with a festive meal made of roast meat and vegetables, salads, snacks, trifles, Christmas puddings and drinks.

Through the generosity of locals, and a jolly red costume, Santa will be handing out presents on the day while live music will be played.

The event is open to anyone who is interested in attending or contributing.

Miss McRae said the event was for anyone with nowhere to go on Christmas Day.

Commenting on what she believes has been a rise in homelessness across the region, Miss McRae said there were concerns for locals ahead of the predicted tropical Cyclone Jasper which is expected to make landfall on the Queensland coast in the coming days.

She said the housing market continued to push more and more people into homelessness, a heartbreaking reality for those trying to bring the festive season to their children.

Anyone interested in donating or supporting the Christmas lunch or other initiatives from the Facebook group can reach out to organisers here.