By Mikayla van Loon
The Rotary Club of Lilydale (RCL) is continuing to spread Christmas joy to children and families in need having organised the collection of over 1000 presents to be donated to local support services.
Bringing together 23 businesses who each received donations from the community of varying presents and gift vouchers, RCL was able to divide the gifts between Anchor, the Proactive Policing Unit (PPU) and OzChild.
Being the second year RCL volunteers Gerry and Anne Van Horick organised the Wishing Tree project, they weren’t sure how people would respond but were left overwhelmed once again.
“Given the economic circumstances we really appreciate this community support and it’s been very generous,” Mr Van Horick said.
Having only intended to give presents and vouchers to Anchor and the PPU, Mr Van Horick said because the community was so kind in donating as much as they did there were left over gifts that needed to go somewhere – so they selected foster care agency OzChild.
For Anchor, these presents will bring light and happiness to the children and teenagers currently living in transitional and social housing or who are in foster care.
“It just makes such a difference. The thought of kids not having gifts at Christmas time it’s just really devastating,” Anchor’s homeless services manager Peter Dinsdale said.
“The impact that it has for the families, particularly for the parents because they feel such, I suppose shame is the word, if they can’t be giving them gifts at Christmas time.”
Mr Dinsdale said these gifts, which have each been categorised by age and likes, will be delivered to over 70 children.
“We also have families that are in hotels at the moment, and I think we have something like 16 children who are having to live in hotels, so this will also allow them to receive gifts as well,” he said.
Unable to thank RCL enough for their generosity and the individualisation of all the presents to ensure each young person received what they wanted, Mr Dinsdale said it brought a lot of happiness to the Anchor staff.
“It’s just happiness all around and for our workers too, it’s such a great thing to be doing after a really hard year to be bringing some happiness to clients.”
Yarra Ranges Crime Prevention Officer, Leading Senior Constable Linda Hancock said for the cohort of young people she works with, this will mean a lot to them to have something of their own for Christmas.
“[These vouchers] are going to go to some of our high schools to the wellbeing nurses for distribution for them to choose which students might need it,” she said.
“And then the presents are going to go to some other unknown groups that don’t get funding around our community centres.”
This partnership between the local Lilydale community, police and different support services Mr Van Horick said was one of the main reasons people donated.
“The feedback we’ve had is that because it’s going to the local community and it’s going to other kids that may not be as well off as they are and even if they’re not all that well off themselves, they know other people are in a worse position,” Mr Van Horick said.
“So they’re grateful they can help out and I think it’s quite heartwarming to see that support.”
Many of the 23 businesses who signed on this year have already agreed to be a part of the initiative again next year.
“It’s a community effort… All the businesses we approached this year who were part of it last year didn’t hesitate and the new ones weren’t that hard to sign up either,” Mr Van Horick said.
“They were all very enthusiastic and we’ve had many who have said count us in again. Without them we couldn’t do it and they’re the people who drive it within their business.”
Another lovely aspect of the project Mrs Van Horick said was the passing on of the value of generosity to younger children who were then able to put something in the box themselves.
However big or small the contribution, Mr and Mrs Van Horick said everything makes a difference to sharing some joy and cheer at Christmas for these children and young people.
“No matter what the contribution was, because it varies, every single thing makes a difference. You were part of it and every single thing makes a difference, even if there’s only one thing,” Mr Van Horick said
“That one present is helping and that child may not have received anything at all so everything makes a difference,” Mrs Van Horick added.
