2009 CHRISTMAS APPEAL ‘Help Complete Their Christmas’ You can help complete Christmas for many families in need by donating special gifts and bringing hope and joy into their lives. These are some of the ways in which your organisation can make a difference this Christmas:
Become a Vinnies Secret Santa to someone in need this Christmas Every Christmas, we play Secret Santa to colleagues, friends and family, by giving them novelty or luxury gifts they don’t really need. This Christmas, you are invited to become a Vinnies Secret Santa to someone who really needs to receive a special gift to help them through a particularly challenging time of year and assure them that they are not alone. Simply register to become a Vinnies Secret Santa to someone in need at http://www.vinniessecretsanta.org.au/. Then you can use the downloads and features available to encourage your family, friends and colleagues to support your fundraising or get involved and make your Secret Santa gift even more meaningful.
Christmas Hampers Christmas is a time when people living in disadvantage miss out on the Christmas tradition of giving and receiving gifts. Often Santa doesn’t come and parents often don’t have the opportunity to give gifts to their children or indeed to receive them. At Christmas, our members and volunteers, with public support, spread the Christmas cheer and add a little joy to people’s lives by giving them Christmas hampers full of gifts and necessities. If your company is interested in making special hampers for families and people in crisis this Christmas please include: • •
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Toys Toiletries, for Mum and Dad as well as the children (ie: soap, perfume, deodorant, bath gel, towels, razors, shaving gel/cream, aftershave, shampoo, conditioner, toothbrushes, toothpaste, tissues etc) Non perishable food items (i.e.: canned food – soups, fruits, spaghetti, ham etc, packets of pasta, rice, biscuits, cakes, lollies, tea, coffee, sugar etc…) Summer clothes (ie: socks, caps, thongs, other shoes, shirts, shorts etc…) Household items Books
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CD’s and DVD’s Shopping, pamper or entertainment vouchers (i.e.: cinema) Mobile phone credit Cash (enables our Conference members to purchase exactly what is needed) For other ideas, think of what you would like to receive for Christmas, or even items you take for granted everyday so much that they wouldn’t even be on your Christmas list, and see if that is appropriate
Simply get in touch with your local Vinnies Shop to ensure that your gifts are given to the people who St Vincent de Paul Society members and volunteers visit in their homes everyday.
Help Vinnies turn a house into a home The St Vincent de Paul Society’s Outreach Program works with homeless clients to move them into secure outreach housing to transition their return to independent living. Vinnies needs your help to make their transition into sustainable independent living as comfortable and effective as possible. You can help turn their house into a home by donating common household items that many of us may take for granted. Such items include; bedding, towels, toiletries, cleaning implements, cups, plates, bowls, cutlery, curtains, furniture, lamps, white goods and other items to help complete their home this Christmas. To arrange with a homeless service, please contact Dane Hiser on 02 95680231.
Jeans Drive Jeans are a handy, durable and all purpose piece of clothing that we can often take for granted. They last for a long time, often outlasting our use for them. You can give your jeans even more life and donate them to Vinnies for people in need. Hold a jeans drive in your workplace and bring relief to someone for whom such items may be a luxury. Please contact your local Vinnies shop to arrange. For any inquiries, contact Dane Hiser on 02 95680231.
Volunteering While volunteer spaces are limited at the St Vincent de Paul Society’s homeless services, we there may be selected opportunities available to your staff. Volunteering opportunities will vary and be dependant on the time, but such activities may include: - serving meals - packing hampers - assisting with recreational and educational classes for people at homeless services - cleaning or maintaining a Special Work or Centre - creating or maintaining a garden or particular space at a service (ie: painting a room, planting a garden) - holding a Christmas Party for residents at a service
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putting up Christmas decorations at a homeless service volunteering a Vinnies Shop providing administrative support
To discuss volunteering opportunities, please contact Kate Scholl on 02 9568 0209.
To make a credit card donation to the Vinnies Christmas Appeal please visit www.vinnies.org.au or call 13 18 12.