IT’S that time of year when support agencies are stretched to the limits of their resources in ensuring that the needy in the community do not miss out on the Christmas experience.
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And each year they’re equal to the test — with some help from their friends.
One of the biggest and most important undertakings of the season of goodwill is the Christmas and Beyond Christmas Day luncheon at the Four Square Gospel church in Wylde Street, Lithgow.
Pastor Jim Abberton and his volunteers selflessly give up their own family celebration to provide a free lunch with all the trimmings for anyone who wants to drop in.
As well as lunch there are free food hampers and gifts for the kids.
This has now been a feature of Christmas in Lithgow for several years and for the past two years support has come from donations to the Westfund Christmas Appeal as well as earlier corporate sponsors.
The demand gets bigger year by year as a apart from those on hard times the lunch is open to anyone simply alone at Christmas.
A similar free Christmas lunch has been operating for some years at Blackheath where there has also been a strong demand.
But it’s far from just Christmas and beyond that provides the much needed support in Lithgow.
The Salvation Army and St Vincent de Paul are at the forefront of the effort — as they are year round.
They have benefited from donations of toys and festive food lines collected during the local motorcycle fraternity toy run organised by the Ulysses club and now in its 19th year.
The run began in Portland as usual and ended at the State Mine Museum.
Local car clubs have also held their appeals.
It’s not too late to help the less fortunate.
Anyone who has missed out on making a contribution still has the opportunity to extend goodwill by dropping in at the Salvation Army or Vinnies shops or at the Westfund centre, all in Main Street.
But don’t leave it later than Monday.
