THE Moree community are asked to help make Christmas a little brighter for local people in need by supporting the 2017 UnitingCare and Target Christmas Appeal.
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UnitingCare and Target have once again joined forces for their annual Christmas appeal and are calling on shoppers to give generously by purchasing a bauble for $1 or giving an unwrapped gift at the Target Moree store.
All gifts and money raised will go directly to Moree Family Support who work with other services in town to distribute food hampers and gifts to those most in need.
“At this time of the year, a lot of families struggle to make ends meet,” Moree Family Support manager Felicity Curtis said.
“We see it at the forefront.
“We appreciate the support every year – it goes a long way to families who really need it.
“We get such good feedback from the community every year. The smiles on the faces of families and the elderly is worth it.”
Last year the appeal raised $1800 locally which was used to buy about 50 gift hampers for the elderly.
Moree Family Support is aiming to do 100 hampers this year for families, as well as the elderly.
UnitingCare coordinator Karen Kong said 2017 has been a really tough year for families facing issues of unemployment and increasing living costs.
“We really do rely on the generous people in our community to dig deep, show compassion and support our appeal this Christmas,” she said.
“Anything is appreciated – anything is extra that these people wouldn’t normally get.”
Target Moree manager Emma O’Hern has experienced first-hand how much this support means at Christmas time and as a result is particularly passionate about the UnitingCare and Target campaign.
“I received a gift hamper from a church as a single mum who was pregnant at the time, so it really strikes a chord with me to be on the other side,” she said.
“It all remains local which is fantastic.”
Mrs O’Hern said last year the store ran a challenge between team members to encourage them to ask people to buy a gift tag, which proved very successful
“When you ask, more often than not, people say yes,” she said.
“People are happy to donate – $1 is nothing.”
The appeal launched in all Target stores across the country earlier this month and will run locally until Friday, December 15.
For more information go to www.unitingcarechristmasappeal.com.au.