Spreading Christmas cheer across the region

Each hamper includes shelf-stable food including pasta, cereal, long-life milk, snacks and more, as well as Christmas classics such as pudding, gravy and a stocking of lollies.

More than 100 hampers will be delivered to people across Echuca and Rochester, with almost 480 hampers going to Bendigo residents.

Anglicare Victoria regional director north central Michael Oerlemans said Christmas could be a difficult time of year for those struggling to afford food, and the hampers would provide immediate relief.

“For a person or family already struggling to make ends meet, the added expenses around this time of year can cause a huge amount of stress,” he said.

“They might not be able to share a Christmas lunch or buy presents for children, so by providing these hampers, we’re able to relieve some of that financial burden.

“We’re extremely grateful to the Godfrey Go Well Charitable Trust for their donation.

‘’Their generosity means more people in our community will celebrate this festive season.”

Each hamper item has been purchased at local IGA supermarkets, including Echuca and Rochester IGAs, providing a boost to local economies.

An IGA food voucher has also been included in the hampers so people can shop for what they need.

“We wanted to buy food and vouchers from locally owned IGAs to keep money in these communities and create an economic flow on, which is especially important in regional areas,” Mr Oerlemans said.

Keating’s Transport has also supported the huge effort by delivering hampers across the region free of charge.

“Our sincere thanks go out to these local businesses for their support,’’ Mr Oerlemans said.

‘’The region has truly shown its community spirit this Christmas.’’