THE Mornington Community Support Centre is making sure everyone has a Christmas to look forward to through a range of programs to help families doing it tough, including a toy and gift program, a steam train ride, and Christmas lunch, supported through a $50k Christmas Appeal fundraising campaign.
As part of the Christmas programs, the centre transformed the Mornington Pavilion into a giant toy and gift shop, where clients with children or grandchildren could choose from hundreds of gifts donated by the community. Donations came from families, businesses and organisations who collected gifts through Giving Trees in a range of community locations.
MCSC Senior Case Manager Yvonne Frances co-ordinates the Toy and Gift Program every year and said it’s a beautiful reminder of the spirit of Christmas. “With so many people really struggling with cost of living and other pressures we see every day at the centre, it’s just so wonderful to be in a room full of toys that we know will bring a lot of smiles on Christmas morning.” “For a lot of our clients with children or grandchildren, making sure Christmas day is a day to look forward to is just a huge relief,” said Frances.
MCSC President Lyn Johnson said the centre is seeing a significant increase in the number of people seeking help and Christmas creates more pressure. “In the past four months we’ve seen a 40% increase in demand for emergency relief. We know this Christmas is going to be even tougher for a lot of people in our community,” Johnson said.
Johnson says the centre is close to achieving its $50k target to help fund the Christmas programs, which is entirely funded by the community.
“We’re so grateful for the community support of our annual Christmas Programs through our Christmas Fundraising Appeal; everyone from the CWA and Rotarians, sports clubs and schools, businesses and people who just give what they can afford. It really is an incredible reminder of the generosity and kindness in our community, and what Christmas is really all about.”
Now in its 41st year, the Mornington Community Support Centre continues to be a vital part of the community providing a range of services including emergency relief and fresh food programs, financial support and counselling, connection to other agencies, crisis accommodation at The Ranch and the Meeting Room Café. The Centre also runs the Beach End café to support its fundraising efforts.
For more information about the centre’s work head to the MCSC website: www.mcsc.au.
First published in the Mornington News – 17 December 2024
