The project appeals to community members to help put together 100 hampers to be gifted to those spending Christmas alone.
Inner Wheel member Denise Hanson said the group felt it was a worthy cause for its money to be put towards.
“Every Christmas, we have our December meeting as a Christmas lunch where we bring along an unmarked envelope with a donation,” she said.
“With the money raised at that meeting, we go and give it to someone that we feel needs it.
“The green bags and Christmas lunches caught the eye of our president because we all know people who struggle during Christmas and it just seemed like a very worthy cause.”
Community members can help out by purchasing items such as chocolates, biscuits, jams and fruit preserves, puddings and tinned fruit and dropping them off to the Riverine Herald office.
If people aren’t able to drop off goods, they can also donate directly to the Community Projects bank account: Bendigo Bank, 633 000, 157305483.
The Community Projects team will then put together the hampers and distribute them during the Echuca Moama Community Christmas Lunch.
Community Projects co-ordinator Julie Langdon said the hampers gave those spending Christmas alone something to look forward to on Christmas Day.
“Santa comes towards the end [of the lunch] and all the kids get a toy and the adults get a hamper to take home,” she said.
“I’d feel terrible if they’re in a room with a hundred people having a good day and then they go back to a quiet home. So there are little surprises and bits and pieces in the hampers so hopefully that feeling transfers to home as well.”
The Christmas lunch will be held at the Echuca Moama Christmas Lunch on Christmas Day at the Echuca Moama Uniting Church.
All those spending Christmas alone, such as singles, single parents with kids or lone couples, are invited to attend the free lunch.
There are limited spots, so bookings are essential.
To reserve a seat, phone Julie on 0475 707 412.
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