Mayor’s Christmas Tree Appeal spreads festive cheer
Date published: 8 December 2016
About 5,500 Townsville residents of all ages will benefit from the generosity and kindness of the community thanks to this year’s Mayor’s Christmas Tree Appeal.
An increased call for food hampers saw more than 1500 hampers packed at Food Relief NQ with the assistance of 3rd Brigade, up from 1300 in 2015, for distribution to 29 community groups.
The appeal has provided 1000 family food hampers and 500 single food hampers.
Along with cash donations of about $60,000, two tonnes of food and 1000 gifts were collected to assist those less fortunate over the Christmas period.
Townsville Mayor Cr Jenny Hill said it had been difficult to reach this year’s target of $110,000 because of tough times in the community.
“It’s been a tough year, but we’ve ensured that the charity groups who needed our help received as much as we could provide through the donations we received,” Cr Hill said.
“Our appeal this year has been all about putting food on the table.
“Thanks to the community, we’ve been able to distribute these food hampers to the community groups assisting individuals and families at Christmas.
“The gifts will also go a long way to putting some joy on the faces of children and adults who might otherwise miss out.”
Cr Hill wanted to especially thank Townsville RSL, Escape Travel, 3rd Brigade, Food Relief NQ, Townsville Bulletin and 4TO FM for their contributions.
“I want to thank all the businesses and the community as a whole because this year we had more participants giving what they can, than ever before,” Cr Hill said.
Recipient organisations this year are:
- Adventist Development Relief Agency Australia Ltd
- Althea Projects Inc – Wee Care Residential Services
- Centacare North Queensland
- Coalition on Criminal Assault in the Home Inc (NQ) North Queensland Domestic Violence Resource Services
- Coast to Country Housing Company
- Cootharinga North Queensland
- Family Emergency Accommodation Townsville
- Headspace
- Kith and Kin Association Ltd
- Life Community Connect
- Northreach Baptist Church
- Northern Regional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corp
- North Queensland Community Services Inc
- Uniting Care Church – Iona House
- Townsville Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation for Health Services
- North Queensland Training and Community Centre
- North Townsville Community Hub Inc
- Ozcare Men’s Hostel
- Ozcare Maria House
- Queensland Youth Services Inc
- Sera’s Women’s Shelter
- Sharehouse Youth Accommodation Program Inc
- St Vincent de Paul Society Qld
- The Salvation Army
- Townsville Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Corporation for Women/Home and Community Care
- Townsville Drop In Centre Inc
- Townsville Intercultural Centre
- Yumba-Meta Housing Association Ltd (Flora House)
