About 100 hampers were distributed to local service providers on Wednesday which they will then pass onto their most neediest clients in the lead-up to Christmas.

Anglicare donated 100 food boxes, worth $80 each, filled with Christmas goods and non-perishable items. These have been topped up with loaves of bread, donated by Woolworths Moree, and gift cards for people to purchase fresh food products which were donated by Moree Family Support.

On Wednesday, the hampers were divided between Byamee, Moree Family Support, Ngala Women’s Refuge, Flourish, Anglicare, The Salvation Army, Ephraim House and Miyay Birray.

Those services will then distribute hampers to the most vulnerable and socially isolated people within the community, with a focus on elderly clients.

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Moree services have been getting together to provide Christmas hampers to those in need for many years. Moree Area Homelessness Services manager Jo Williams said they make a significant difference to people struggling at this time of year.

“They bring a little bit of extra spark and put smiles on some faces that are doing it tough,” she said.

“It’s a great way for services to collaborate and do a little bit extra for the people that we see doing it hard every day.”

According to Ms Williams, a number of people put their rent on hold or stop paying important bills in order to be able to buy their children a Christmas present, a bad habit that she hopes the hampers will help break.

“People really want to give their kids something at Christmas and this gives them a little extra in the pocket to do that,” she said.

“Hopefully this will give them the opportunity to keep their rent going.”