Community lends support as Top End prepares for Christmas
Community lends support as Top End prepares for Christmas
15 December 2017
Community toy drives, from Darwin to Alice Springs, support the Salvation Army distribute gifts and food to families in need.
By Simone Worthing
Top End traditions
The Palmerston Corps, Darwin, in partnership with the city’s Catherine Booth House, held Christmas Markets at the corps on Saturday 9 December.
A wide range of stalls, including handicrafts, homewares and food, attracted people from the local community. The children enjoyed face painting, colouring competitions and a visit from Santa (see photo below).
Funds raised through the markets will benefit both the Palmerston Corps Christmas drive, and Catherine Booth House – a safe haven for women escaping domestic and family violence, tucked away in a leafy Darwin suburb.
“The event was a really nice way to reach out to the community and let them know we’re still here,” said Sarah Roberts, Public Relations officer for The Salvation Army, Northern Territory. “It was also a good way to introduce Captains Matt and Katie Ryan, who only arrived last month.”
The Ryans have been busy planning Christmas events since they transferred to Darwin. “We made some great contacts, even though we’ve only been at the corps for four weeks,” said Captain Katie. “The community was so receptive and already good things are happening.”
Captain Matt has connected with Bunnings Warehouse, who will provide spray cans of paint for a graffiti wall for young people at the local shopping centre, where there has been a problem with youth vandalism.
The Ryans will host a Christmas Eve service, combining with Darwin Corps who will run the Carols by Candlelight. On Christmas Day, a breakfast and service will be held at Darwin Corps.
Community support
Many businesses and community groups across the Northern Territory have also been generous in their support of local Christmas appeals.
Jacana Energy (right) hosted a “High tea for hope” in Darwin to raise vital funds for the appeal, and have also been collecting non-perishable food items for family hampers.
Elders Real Estate offices across Darwin donated a substantial amount of food, and thousands of dollars of gift vouchers for teenagers. To assist with sorting food and gifts, 20 staff members joined 25 students from the local Anula Primary School at the Darwin Corps on 13 December (pictured below).
“We spoke to the Elders staff and students about homelessness in the city, and how these donations would assist people,” said Darwin Corps Officer, Captain Kris Halliday. “We thanked them for their donations and for helping to make our work possible.
“The group then set up a food and toy room, so people coming through can choose the food they like and presents for their own children. The kids really got into it, and knew straight away which age group would like which present!”
Toy drives
In Alice Springs (right), around 100 Harley Davidson motorbikes from HOG (Harley Davidson Owners Group) came out in support of the annual motorcycle toy drive, bringing all the donated toys and gifts to The Salvation Army for local distribution.
Helpers from the Centralian Middle School leadership team helped The Salvation Army team put together over 600 care packages for people in the Alice Springs prisons and detention centre.
In Katherine, cars joined the motorcycles from the town, and surrounding communities, for Katherine’s toy run. As with all the Northern Territory’s food and toy drives, all donated goods are distributed within the local area.
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