The past couple of years, the amount of physical goods in the hampers has decreased with more vouchers for meat, bread, barbecue chicken and a general gift card from IGA last year.

“We thought these days not as many people want to eat Christmas pudding and the other items we have in the past included,” president Ronda Teece said. “Rather we decided that the clients would be given two $50 IGA vouchers and a $50 meat voucher for Darryl’s Butchers. This means they can use the vouchers to get the food they want to eat. “

“Every year we have had hampers not collected because some people did not like the contents. It also means that people with special dietary requirements, such a low GI, vegetarian, vegan, gluten free etc can get foods they can eat,” Ronda said.

Gloucester Charities has so far this year given out nearly 300 vouchers to locals in need with food, petrol or pharmacy vouchers (for PBS medications only). Christmas is a time of financial stress for many so this number is bound to increase.

All the funds used to help locals in need and other community organisations are raised by book sales at the Old Scout Hall. Thank you to those who buy the books that enable Gloucester Charities’ to do what they do. Everybody in Gloucester Charities is a volunteer and they receive no government grants.  

Deborah Brooks