“It’s the most wonderful time of the year”

Except for so many, it’s not.

Financial stress, loneliness and family dynamics can make Christmas one of the most stressful times of the year. According to research by Good360 Australia, one in two respondents worried about affording gifts for their family. And with one in three Australians finding it difficult to cope financially, an event like Christmas can be a breaking point.

The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) has more than 100 Australian community projects run in collaboration with local Seventh-day Adventist churches. During the festive season, many of these projects run additional Christmas activities to help ease the burden of the holidays.

In Queensland, the ADRA Community Centre Logan has an annual Christmas Day community breakfast.

“This is the only event in Logan on Christmas morning,” says centre manager Sam Luteru. “Last year, more than 1,600 people attended our Christmas event and enjoyed the children’s crafts, face painting, live music and entertainment.”

 

 

As well as the breakfast, the team prepares 250 Christmas food hampers for families, couples, or singles in attendance to take home.

The event is supported by funding from Logan City Council and is attended by politicians including Federal member Dr Jim Chalmers, State member Cameron Dick, as well as Logan City councillors Teresa Lane and Mindy Russell.

In Victoria, the ADRA Community Care Centre Wantirna will be offering Christmas hampers, fresh produce, and new toys for kids.

“Clients and community members are able to come in and pick new toys and gifts for their kids, and we offer gift wrapping too so they can keep them as surprises for Christmas morning,” says volunteer centre manager Liz Heath. “60 per cent of our clients are domestic violence survivors and have very little. This is our 13th year doing this.”

In Cardinia, ADRA partners with the Salvation Army and Follow Bless Collective to run the “Christmas Together” program.

“Over three weeks in December we will serve a few hundred families,” says Krystelle Ko, volunteer manager for ADRA Community Care Cardinia. “Families can select groceries with extra special Christmas items, gifts for children and a gift card.”

ADRA Carrum Downs Samoan and ADRA Frankston are also among the ADRA projects in Australia offering special services for Christmas.

National Programs director Charlene Luzuk says, “The people who visit our projects are often doing it tough—and Christmas Day is no exception. It gives us great joy to not only provide essentials like food, but also to bring a smile to their face and share the Christmas spirit and God’s love with people who would otherwise be alone or struggling.”

Your donation this Christmas can help bring hope and healing to the most vulnerable. Donate today at adra.org.au/Christmas

This article was originally published by Signs Magazine.