At a time of year when people are lonely or struggling to make ends meet, for a few moments yesterday there was also joy as volunteers with the Christmas Miracle Appeal delivered hampers to 1100 grateful people.
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One of yesterday’s excited recipients, Lorna Begley, welcomed the arrival of her Christmas hamper.
She said she is very thankful for the hamper that comes her way each year through the Christmas Miracle Appeal.
“It makes Christmas that little bit easier,” she said.
“People are so kind and generous.”
Mrs Begley will be spending Christmas this year with her daughter at Raglan.
Mrs Begley has lived at Chifley Village for 28 years and said she has enjoyed every day she has been there.
“It’s a lovely place to live,” she said.
Christmas Miracle Appeal co-ordinator Noela Sikora and her daughter, Susie Morgan, started the day by delivering Christmas hampers to the residents of Chifley Village.
Mrs Sikora said it is their favourite time of the year.
It is 53 years since the Christmas Miracle Appeal began. Mrs Sikora has been involved for 30 of those years.
“We have been coming to Chifley Village for many years,” she said.
“We used to bring the kids when they were little,
“For us it has become more about coming out and saying hello to people and wishing them a Merry Christmas,” she added.
She and Susie handed out 31 hampers at Chifley Village and received a wonderful response from residents.
On Saturday 180 volunteers spent the morning packing the hampers at the Pit Complex on Mount Panorama.
In total, 54,000 items were packed into reusable shopping bags.
While a portion of the goods were donated, the majority were purchased by Mrs Sikora using money raised throughout the year.
She said volunteering for the Christmas Miracle Appeal gave members of the community the opportunity to do something for someone else at Christmas.