Far Northern volunteers help deliver Christmas generosity by the box full
IF goodwill can be measured by the box load, then the people of Cairns sure have a lot of it this Christmas.
More than $40,000 has been raised so far for the annual Mayor's Christmas Appeal, which donates food hampers to needy local families who otherwise may struggle to assemble to a Yuletide feast.
About 600 hampers were packed yesterday by 60 volunteers, including some local youngsters who have been giving up a day of their school holidays for the past few years.
"My dad's been doing it for the last four years, so we went along with him and we liked it, so now we go along every year,'' said 12-year-old Holly Goodchild.
"It feels good because you're giving stuff to people who are less fortunate than you are.''
Holly and twin sister Hannah recommend other locals donate their time to hamper packing in the future, or give money to the cause if possible.
The appeal aims to raise another $20,000 before Christmas. It was given a huge boost at Carols by Candlelight at Fogarty Park on Sunday, when a record $12,330 was raised.
To donate visit www.cairns. qld.gov.au or donate at the council's customer service centres.
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Santa's helpers: Tiarna Cao-Kelly, 19, of Mooroobool, packs a hamper as Hannah Goodchild, 12, of Brinsmead, gets more boxes ready.
