LIKE Santa’s helpers, the Woodworkers of the Southern Peninsula have been busy all year making 825 toys for charities to give to children this Christmas.
The group’s president John Bayliss said the past year had been the toughest of 25 due to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions, .
The Salvation Army’s Lynne Jones thanked the woodworkers for their donations and highlighted their “creativity and attention to detail”. She praised the team “for their gift of time and commitment”.
“As you know, there is a lot of homelessness and domestic violence on the Mornington Peninsula and Salvo Housing refers many to us and we are pleased to able to give them a gift you have made. Many thanks for your efforts.”
Food for All’s Alan Hawkins said: “The skill, patience and dedication of the toy makers in making all these marvellous toys boggles my mind.”
Food for All this year plans to include toys with a hamper for about 400 families.
“COVID has caused the loss of over 5000 jobs on the Mornington Peninsula resulting in homelessness and domestic violence, so it is delightful to see how the community pulls together to help each other,” Cr Antonella Celi said.
First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 7 December 2021
