IN preparation for the Christmas season, Loaves and Fishes – Christians Caring are once again holding their Grab a Grocery Campaign on November 23 at Coles and Woolworths. Loaves and Fishes community development coordinator, David Still, said there will be volunteers at both stores handing out lists of items for people to buy including staples like peanut butter, tinned tuna, tinned fruit and two-minute noodles and Christmas items like Christmas cake and fruit minced pies. “When someone comes on Saturday, they can stop and get a list of items from one of our volunteers and if each shopper could even just buy one item that would be fantastic,” he said. “Last year we had a few people who filled up their trolley with the whole list, but we don’t expect that from everyone.” While the demand isn’t as high as last year, Mr Still said every grocery that someone purchases counts towards helping a local family have a better Christmas. “The main reason is it enables us to help people, particularly in the lead up to Christmas, who are struggling, who don’t have enough money to buy food,” he said. “It’s a really stressful time of the year for families with low income so this is our way of being able to make a difference. “Most of what we collect will be gone in six weeks or less, so it has an immediate impact and goes straight back to the local community.” For those who can't purchase groceries on the day, Loaves and Fishes will be accepting donations at the Anglicare Victoria office at 39 Ovens Street from Monday to Friday between 9.30am and 12.30pm. For more information, phone 5723 7900.
