Food needed to help fill those hampers

By Paul Dunlop
PAKENHAM charities are desperately seeking extra food to help the needy enjoy Christmas.
The festive season prompts increased financial demands, making it a stressful time for many families and a hectic period for support organisations.
The 4Cs (Cardinia Combined Churches Caring) Food Bank and St Vincent de Paul are just two organisations mustering their resources for what is the busiest part of their year.
St Vincent de Paul volunteers recently put out a call for donations to their food supplies, saying their cupboards were almost bare.
Food Bank co-ordinator Jeni Mathieson said the 4Cs also welcomed items as they worked to make up to 500 Christmas hampers for clients around Pakenham and the Cardinia Shire.
“We’re here to help. We want to help. We hate to think of anyone not having a nice Christmas,” Mrs Mathieson said.
Rotary has donated 150 cakes and puddings to the 4Cs, and Mrs Mathieson said other festive items like mince pies, tinned plum puddings and shortbreads were also most welcome.
“It can be a tough time of year,” she said. “Every parent wants to give their children a nice Christmas, and part of the problem is that people want to go that step further.
“People in need should not feel embarrassed to come to us.”
St Vincent de Paul volunteer Kath, who didn’t want her surname published for privacy reasons, said demand for food parcels and other support was as high as it had ever been.
“We help as many people as we can,” she said. “Prices have gone up, there’s no doubt about it.
“Christmas can be very demanding. People often have to choose between putting food on the table or buying a present for their child. It can be a stressful time for families.”
Kath said volunteers welcomed food donations as well as toys that could be passed on to families in Christmas hampers.
Volunteers said the most helpful items were cereals, baked beans, long-life milk, tea and coffee, tinned fruit, tinned soup, spaghetti, pasta sauce and biscuits. A donation box has been set up at the St Vincent de Paul shop in Main Street, Pakenham.