Mayor's Christmas donation to local charities

Published on 16 December 2020

Mayor's cheque presentation Christmas donation.JPG

The long standing Mayor’s Christmas Function will not be held this year with funds allocated instead to local churches and community organisations to help them support vulnerable members of the local community.

“This year has been a particularly hard year for many community members in the Burwood Local Government Area due to the pandemic,” Mayor John Faker said.

“The Mayor’s Christmas Function has been a long standing annual tradition that has served to bring together and thank members of the community who have contributed to the progress of Burwood.

“However, due to COVID-19, both in terms of safety considerations and in recognition of the ongoing financial difficulties faced by many in our local community, I have taken the decision not to hold the Mayor’s Christmas Function in December this year.

“There has never been a more critical time to recognise that Christmas can be an added pressure on people and families that are already doing it tough.“

The following organisations will receive $2,000 from the reallocated funds:

  • Women and Girls’ Emergency Centre to help provide Toys and Christmas packages for women and children escaping domestic violence and to provide school holiday activities for children.
  • Burwood Croydon Uniting Church to help provide  emergency relief packages, food vouchers and toys to high needs community members
  • St Merkorious Charity to help deliver prepared meals to vulnerable community members
  • St Paul’s Anglican Church to help provide Christmas hampers made up of essential food and hygiene items, and
  • Wesley Mission Homelessness Services to help distribute care packages to rough sleepers

Council is also encouraging local residents to donate gifts to the ‘Tree of Joy’ initiative being delivered in partnership with the Rotary Club of Burwood.

 

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