There were a lot of full hearts in Bathurst yesterday as volunteers visited homes to deliver 1100 Christmas Miracle Appeal hampers.
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Co-ordinator Noela Sikora said 200 generous people turned out on Saturday morning to pack the hampers, saying the response was absolutely amazing.
The large crowd of helpers meant the bags were packed in just under two hours.
They celebrated afterwards with a barbecue.
Ms Sikora said Mayor Gary Rush gave a wonderful speech about community and giving.
She said some of the packers have been coming year after year, while for others it was their first experience.
“It was just beautiful. Very moving,” she said.
Her grandson Alex Morgan and his partner Avril Bryant, joined her and daughter Susie Morgan this year, not only for the packing, but also for the distribution of hampers.
Alex has been helping his mum and grandmother with the Christmas Miracle Appeal since he was a toddler – he’s now 23, and Ms Sikora said it’s great to see the younger members of the community excited to be involved in making Christmas brighter for others in our community.
The hampers were made up with a wide range of Christmas goodies including Christmas cake, Christmas pudding, fruit, vegetables, long life milk, tea, lollies, ham, jellies and cereal.
Ms Sikora said around 1100 items came from the schools, there was a pallet of food donated by Simplot, another pallet by Mars Petcare and the rest had to be purchased using money raised during the year.
She said $30,000 was spent on filling the Christmas Miracle Appeal hampers this year – with an additional $1000 donated to the Salvation Army to buy presents for children, $1000 to Barney Rumble’s community Christmas lunch and the remainder to purchase fruit baskets for patients at the hospital.
Ms Sikora said the money was raised through the News on William Trivia Night, the Bathurst Real Estate family bowls day, sponsorship of the holes and tees at the Liquor Accord Golf Day, the V8 and F1 tipping competition, Put Christmas in Your Street, and the Charity Boxing night at Paddy’s Hotel.
Other donations of money were made by the Edgell Jog Committee, Spring Spectacular committee, Rankin Cottage crafts and the Promenade Dance School, while Central West forklifts donated the use of their fortklifts, Cleanaway provided the bins, Bunnings donated the bags, All Saints’ College provided the trestles and Bernadi’s IGA gave a great discount on the purchase of food.
Ms Sikora said she wanted to thank the 35 people who helped collate all the food on Thursday so it was ready for packing, the teachers and students from All Saints’ who assisted, along with the Apexians who helped out, and the members of Lions who cooked the barbecue at the end of Saturday’s packing efforts.
She said a good group also turned up to deliver the hampers yesterday morning.
“People were so grateful to receive their hampers,” Ms Sikora said. “It is not a job for us but something we love to do. “The Christmas Miracle hampers were first delivered by Ron Camplin in 1959. At that time there were just eight of them.
Ms Sikora said the Christmas Miracle Appeal is all about sharing the Christmas spirit.
“I always say there is a Santa Claus in the hearts of all people.”