Dozens of families benefit from Helping Hands hampers

Up to 100 Western Downs children have received gifts this Christmas thanks to Dalby’s Helping Hands Outreach Project. Find out more.

Helping Hands Dalby helped to spread Christmas cheer through their hamper program.

Dozens of families have had presents under their Christmas trees and food on their tables this year thanks to a Dalby charity.

Dalby’s Helping Hands Outreach Project once again ran their Christmas hamper and toy donation appeal, helping families this Christmas amid growing financial struggles.

Helping Hands’ Lizzie Harvey said thanks to donations and fundraising through their shop they were able to support many local families.

“We gave out about 25 hampers this year which was pretty on par with previous years, we were also able to give out toys to 100 children,” she said.

“Through the percentage of sales through our shop we were able to buy food, we also had support from the Lions Club and Dalby Leagues Club.

“The toys came from businesses in Dalby and donations from the community throughout the year, if they keep donating if it is near new we will hold onto it and donate it at Christmas.”

Ms Harvey said Christmas was a particularly expensive time for struggling families.

“It’s wonderful we are able to help but it’s also sad that we have to do it, there are a lot of families that need the help this time of year,” she said.

“This is definitely one of the worst we’ve seen it, we are seeing different people needing the help, homelessness is a big thing, rental increase is a big thing, there’s been increases in costs across the board.

“Rentals aren’t very easy to get so we have seen a lot of couch surfing, camping and sadly, sleeping on the streets. Winter hit a lot of people hard so with the communities help we were able to give blankets and emergency food hampers to assist them in their time of need.”

Ms Harvey said even though Christmas was over for another year, they were always in need of donations.

“Don’t forget us keep the donations coming, it helps the community, we use it in the Op-Shop for the community to come and buy and the sales go towards food and hampers,” she said.

“It’s a cycle if they donate the community buys and then we can put it into food every month.

“Thank you to the community for all the help they do for us and we’d like to keep it going and continue to help.”

The Helping Hands Op-shop will reopen on January 8.

Originally published as Dozens of families benefit from Helping Hands hampers