By KATH GANNAWAY
THE HEALESVILLE community has rallied to help ensure that no-one is left without food on the table this Christmas.
Cheree Laumen of HICCI (Healesville Interchurch Care Inc) was feeling reassured last week as food, gifts and cash donations arrived on HICCI’s doorstep.
“The response has been wonderful” said Ms Laumen, HICCI Emergency Relief co-ordinator, of the Mail’s article ‘Hard for the holidays’.
Ms Lauman told the Mail that their food stocks were quickly running out, saying stocks were at the lowest point in over five years, and that it was going to be hard to meet the needs of people over Christmas.
Healesville Community Bank Branch of Bendigo Bank came on board, setting up collection boxes for gifts and food and taking donations.
The good folk at Westley’s Melba Club also pitched in with a barrow load of food and toys delivered to HICCI on Friday.
Ms Laumen said people had been dropping in all week with food and said there had been some very generous donations as well.
Asked what people could do to help now, Ms Laumen said the best thing was to just keep on giving.
“Anything that they would like to have on their own table at Christmas time is a good thing to donate,” she said.
Cash donations are a ‘God-send’ and gift cards that would appeal to teenagers are also a great help.
Drop-off points for donations are Coles, IGA, Healesville Community Bank, Yarra Glen Community Reading Room at the Memorial Hall, Mountain Views and of course HICCI’s main office next to the Memo Hall.
