East Bentleigh community desperate for toys, food for families doing it tough this Christmas
It’s not often you come across a community as tight as East Bentleigh, and after countless fundraisers to help locals in need, the group has come together once again to provide toys and food to those doing it tough this festive season. You can help too.
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A charitable community connected by a social media page has pulled together again to help locals in need, this time organising a Christmas gift drive.
Only a few months ago, members of the East Bentleigh Community 3165 Facebook page raised more than $30000 for three sick boys including eight-year-old Riley Sinclair, who continues to battle a rare form of leukaemia.
The team at Ahead Hair and Beauty Scanlan St has also raised tens of thousands of dollars to assist people living with terminal disease.
Most weeks, a page member will offer up food, services or even job opportunities for those doing it tough.
The group also runs ‘connect’ catch-ups — where local cafes hold coffee dates for people looking for a new friend.
This month, the 5000 member-strong group has put together a 12 Days of Christmas gift drive, with all donations headed toward people in need of a helping hand in December.
“Everyone gets so caught up in their Christmas lunches and celebrations that we can forget about people doing it tough at this time of year,” Facebook page member and gift drive organiser Kay Rimaldo said.
“I started this up when a friend posted (about) how sad (and) lonely she was and it got me thinking … how many people are left feeling like this?”
Ms Rimaldo, who is also a volunteer at the East Bentleigh soccer club, encouraged members of the public to drop off toys and non-perishable food items to the suburb’s seven drop-off locations, including under the giving tree at Triple Five Fitness on Centre Rd.
“I’ve had people from Carnegie willing to collect at the toy library, and the same for Moorabbin … O’Brien Real Estate in Oakleigh has also jumped on board to help,” she said.
Recipients for the gifts include the Launch Housing, Impact and St Vincent De Paul groups, and a number of local families which are yet to be determined.
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The drive runs until December 6, with gifts then taken to a volunteer-led pack and wrap session.
“(We) just want to spread the joy this Christmas … sometimes we just take too make for granted,” Ms Rimaldo said.
“(This) drive may make us all think beyond ourselves.”
For more information and donate, phone Ms Rimaldo on 0408554678 or join the East Bentleigh Community 3165 Facebook page.
brittany.goldsmith@news.com.au