By Melissa Meehan
A MAJOR community campaign has been launched, aimed at providing 4000 cans of food to struggling Cardinia families this Christmas.
And the need has never been greater. On Monday alone, Cardinia Combined Churches Caring (4Cs) staff were serving one person every six minutes .
To help out, the Cardinia Shire Council, in partnership with Star News Group, has established the ‘4000 4 4Cs- We can do it’ campaign to bring some Christmas cheer to those who need it.
Co-ordinator Jeni Mathieson said while many businesses were preparing to wind down over the Christmas period, 4Cs was raring to go for their busiest time of the year.
“There is a lot of financial pressure on people at the moment,” Ms Mathieson said. “We are finding that a lot of people are behind in their rent, those that are homeless, not coping with the increase in gas and electricity bills. Gone are the days that people would come in for one thing – they are now coming in with five, six or seven problems.”
She said Monday was a prime example of the expected need over Christmas.
“We worked out that we serviced one person every six minutes, that doesn’t include the people who were just dropping in to pick up food, ask a question or the ones we didn’t get to,” she said. “We even had to close the doors for 15 minutes to restock the shelves.”
Ms Mathieson predicted in the lead-up to Christmas 4Cs staff could expect to see more than 300 people a day.
“It really is a crazy time of year for us,” she said. “But it’s good that people know we are here to help them.”
As part of the 4Cs service, Ms Mathieson said staff were expecting to give 1000 Christmas hampers to families in need.
Hampers include a chicken, potatoes, onions, carrots, pudding or cake, a bottle of soft drink, Christmas lollies, shortbread and other Christmas items as well as a week’s worth of food.
She said donations of cans, particularly tinned fruit and vegetables, soup or baked beans and spaghetti would help ensure the charity organisation could help out as many families as possible.
“I wouldn’t like to think there was a family that missed out on Christmas,” she said. “Every little bit helps.”
The donated foods would also be included in the hampers and will ensure the 4Cs shelves will be stocked ready for the New Year.
Residents are urged to contribute cans of food and non-perishable items to the campaign and make Christmas special for every person in the shire.
Cardinia mayor Bill Pearson urged residents, schools and businesses to take part in the campaign and support the worthy cause.
“We can all make a difference this Christmas,” Cr Pearson said.
For a full list of drop off locations, visit www.cardinia.
vic.gov.au.
Kooweerup IGA Plus Liquor
Lang Lang Foodworks
Ritchies IGA Pakenham
Star News Group Pakenham Office
Cardinia Shire Council Reception
Sign a Rama Pakenham
4Cs Foodbank, 1 Main Street, Pakenham
