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Christmas hampers put smiles on faces of Maitland families

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More than 8,400 food items, 3,000 toys and hundreds of hampers equals one Merry Christmas for about 400 Maitland families.

The locals in need will receive the welcome helping hand this holiday season as the Maitland City Council Food Assistance Network (FAN) begins delivering the free baskets of goodies throughout the community.

Maitland Neighbourhood Centre (MNC) led the project, made possible thanks to a combination of donations and funding from organisations, residents and council.

“We love being involved,” manager Sarah Adams said.

“It’s not only rewarding for the volunteers but it’s often overwhelming for the community.

“It means a lot to them.

“For example, a single dad with five children – who I recently spoke to – can now enjoy Christmas like everyone else.

“The toy and food drive has been established for more than a decade.

“But, it’s meeting a big demand, especially with so much happening in the past couple of years.

“In 2021, we’ll have put together in excess of 350 hampers.

“And, we liaise with local schools and services to ensure the hampers go to people within the Maitland LGA who require them the most.”

In the height of lockdown in August, council moved to direct more than $20,000 in funding to support those in need due to the ongoing impacts of COVID-19.

A total of $12,000 was directed to this project so far, which allowed council to make a sizable contribution and provide more than 1,000 Maitland residents with vouchers to access fresh meat and vegetables.

These coupons will also aid five local businesses who volunteered their support in response to the EOI to be part of the initiative, with three butchers and two grocers to benefit from council’s commitment to assist small businesses throughout Maitland.

“We certainly utilised the vouchers – they were a great help,” Ms Adams said.

“Each of the hampers will basically include a Christmas lunch, complete with pudding, as well as staples such as cereal, milk and pasta, for example.

“There’ll be about 21 items in each basket, while every child will receive three toys.

“It really makes a huge difference to those families.

“The support from Maitland state MP Jenny Aitchison, Club Maitland City and East Maitland Bowling Club has been fantastic, too.

“I can’t thank everyone enough.”

Council’s coordinator recreation and community planning David Baker said the project, and the Food Assistance Network at large, was having a profound impact on the community

“We are very proud to have the opportunity to partner with the Maitland Neighbourhood Centre,” he told the Newcastle Weekly.

“And, help deliver these hampers to families in need, at a time of need.

“As the FAN has grown over the past 18 months, we’ve seen an increase in the level of necessity for this kind of service in the Maitland community.

“To be supporting those families who need assistance and see that support flow back into our local businesses is something that we are very proud of.

“We’re always investigating new and improved ways that we can assist the wider Maitland community.”

For more information on the Food Assistance Network or to access its services, visit www.maitland.nsw.gov.au/maitland-food-assistance-network

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