Hobart City Mission overwhelmed by last-minute gifts and groceries for families

A plea for help from the Hobart City Mission has seen hundreds of last-minute donations of gifts and groceries for struggling families this Christmas. Find out who they helped.

Hobart City Mission volunteers David Wilkinson and Janet Wilkinson with the many toys donated. Picture: Supplied.

The Hobart City Mission has been overwhelmed with last-minute donations with some families “moved to tears” to be able to receive gifts and groceries.

Verity Davis, the mission’s Christmas assistance program officer, a week ago pleaded for donations or 800 presents for babies and children and 600 bags of groceries for families desperate for help this Christmas.

She said in recent days 3000 children had received presents and 1500 families had received a grocery bag full of everyday essentials and care packs including toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant and shampoo.

Hobart City Mission volunteer Neroli Fehlberg and mission volunteer manager Tegan Waldren. Picture: Supplied.

More than $30,000 worth of additional free items for stocking fillers also were donated.

Ms Davis thanked businesses, donors and more than 100 volunteers who had made and managed the donations.

“We were running short and the people of southern Tasmania and Hobart came together to fill a gap in donations, so much so that we have some left over that have allowed us to support foster carers with presents for all their children, as well as the ability to provide additional items through our ongoing emergency relief programs in Moonah and the city,” she said.

“We had people moved to tears, and so many thankful families, some with up to seven children, who came with empty bags and left with arms full of gifts and groceries.

Volunteers bringing donations in a convoy at Hobart City Mission in Moonah. Picture: Linda Higginson

“It’s a huge amount of work for a fairly small southern Tasmanian based organisation, but it is worth it when you see the difference we can make as a community when we all use what we have, and do what we can.

“If you can imagine providing a food pack, care pack and present for every child in 10 or more public primary schools in Greater Hobart, this is what our wonderful team of volunteers and business partners have been able to achieve over the past few days.

We definitely couldn’t do this without the help of our incredibly generous community of donors, along with Hobart City Mission staff.”

The mission also was able to provide some grandparents with gifts for their grandchildren.

Originally published as Hobart City Mission overwhelmed by last-minute gifts and groceries for families