St Vincent de Paul and the Salvation Army in Wellington are calling for community support ahead of Christmas to ensure everyone has the ability to enjoy the festive season.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The not-for-profit organisations are holding their annual Christmas drives to raise funds, and collect gifts, ahead of December 25.
St Vincent de Paul president, Peter Duffy, is asking for financial donations in the lead-up to Christmas to assist the organisation in providing welfare services.
The funds will also go toward Christmas hampers. In recent years St Vincent de Paul has donated around 70 hampers valued upward of $4500 to families in need.
Mr Duffy said the organisation received a donation of $800 last week alone, and encourages those wishing to support the appeal to visit the Warne Street office where they can make a donation.
“There is a need for it here,” he said.
“A lot of people who live in this district are on the poverty line.
“If someone needs help we do whatever we can to help them, that’s what St Vincent de Paul is about.
“We wish there was more we could do. Some people are just unfortunate, others have everything at their fingertips.”
The team at the Salvation Army on Gisborne Street are also working to provide families with the simple joys associated with Christmas.
Michael Hindle of Wellington Corps Salvation Army said there is a demand for Christmas hampers and gifts for teenage boys.
He said while gift cards will be provided to parents in order to meet varying needs, the Christmas demand branches further than financial support and materialistic items.
“There has been that need for financial support as there’s a lot of pressure on families at Christmas,” Mr Hindle said.
“There’s also a need to feel connected – people are lonely, their kids have grown up and moved away – that connection is really needed, so we try direct people toward other services in Wellington as well as the Christmas community lunch.”
A Christmas Eve service will be held at the facility on the corner of Gisborne and Lee streets from 5pm.
Donations to the Salvation Army can be made at 38 Gisborne Street on a Tuesday or Thursday between 9am-12pm, or give the office a call on 6845 2220.