This year’s Winter Appeal, coordinated by St Paul’s and St Stephen’s Churches in association with Anglicare, will be held on Saturday, June 16.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
As well as non-perishable food, Reverend Mark Smith said the major need for people was the basics – including toothbrushes, toothpaste, nappies and toiletries.
“Generally speaking, clothes last, but we burn through the basics every day,” he said.
“This town is very generous. This is an avenue for people to help.”
Read more
When the whole town pitched in to buy a few affordable items, it made a huge difference.
“People want to help - they know they can’t afford to help everyone but they can buy a couple of cans of soup or a toothbrush,” the parish’s Corrine Ogg said.
The Winter Appeal teams will be collecting donations from 8.30am-11.30am near the entrance to each of the major supermarkets (Aldi, Coles and Woolworths in Lithgow; Friendly Grocer and the newsagency in Wallerawang; and Portland Foodworks). Portland Foodworks will also be hosting a free barbecue.
Items collected will be distributed through the church’s Fresh Food Sunday program or made into hampers as needed.
“We find that people still turn to the church to get help,” Reverend Smith said.
“While people may be less connected to weekly church life, they know they can turn to us for love and charity, to experience God’s love.”
In previous years, the church, which partners with Anglicare to run the program, has been very successful, with a five tonne truck of goods collected in the 2016 drive.
- The monthly Fresh Food Sunday program, which provides affordable fresh food and vegetables as well as pantry staples, will be held this Sunday at St Paul’s, Lithgow, from 11.30am-12.15pm and St Stephen’s, Portland, from 4.30pm-5pm. It is available to all with a pension, health care or immigration card (please bring it on the day). For $2 you fill a shopping bag with a generous amount of fresh fruit and vegetables (of your choosing). Also available for $10 is the opportunity to fill a bag with long-life goods and pantry food items.