To ensure everyone has a festive season to remember, Seymour Central Church has partnered with the Rotary Club of Seymour and Seymour College to give away Christmas boxes to families in need.
Central Church Minister Daniel Sanders said the initiative was inspired by the fact that it wanted to improve the lives of the community.
“Many of us have lived within families that have not had enough,” he said.
“We know what it’s like to miss out on presents or miss out on a nice Christmas meal.
“We want to do what we can to ensure that that happens to as few people as possible.”
Mr Sanders said Christmas was a special time, and they wanted people to be free to experience the wonder of Jesus.
This is the second time the initiative has run, but Mr Sanders said it was something he had done personally for years.
On one occasion, he received a message from a recipient through Seymour College.
“She (a Seymour College staff member) said, I’ve just said to a little boy ‘Are you excited for Christmas?’ His reply was, ‘Yes, because Santa leaves white boxes full of food’,” Mr Sanders said.
“It’s really beautiful.
“It’s really motivating to see what we do is appreciated.”
The Christmas boxes are obtained through a relationship within the church network, according to Mr Sanders.
Each box contains pantry staples and Christmas treats that are given either free or at low cost from several corporate groups connected with the church.
“We personally don’t make contact with the recipients,” Mr Sanders said.
“They (Seymour College) identify the people who receive them, but the college is very grateful.
“The college is one of the touchpoints of families in our community, so they often see the need first-hand.”
He said this initiative was a practical way to support the school in its effort to help families in the school community.
Mr Sanders said he hoped the Christmas boxes helped people to enjoy Christmas with less stress.
“We hope that the recipients receive it as a message that people are thinking about them,” he said.
“We hope that it communicates the spirit of giving.
“Christmas is all about, from our perspective, expressed by the giving of Jesus Christ at the first Christmas.”
