Last Christmas the organisation packaged and delivered 65 food hampers to families in need from Echuca and district, but this year Ms Peake said demand was even higher.
“This year we have teamed up with the Reverse Advent Calendar Australia,” she said.
The initiative operates under the auspices of York Street Church of Christ in Ballarat.
“Unlike a regular Advent Calendar where the focus in on receiving a treat every day, the Reverse Advent Calendar takes the focus off receiving and places it on giving.
“I have a stack of Reverse Advent Calendar boxes for people come and collect, then fill up. We ordered 100 and I am only about halfway through them.”
When collecting a box, community members are given a list of 20 items to include in the box, simply to use as a guide.
“It’s not an expensive thing; in fact, looking at the list it is probably less than $50 worth of food for a good shopper,” she said.
There has been a strong community response from individuals and groups, but Ms Peake said at this point at least demand outweighed supply.
“Two teachers from St Joseph’s College are an example of how people can go about it. They are managing their program via Facebook,” she said.
“They’ve been posting what items people can bring in on a weekly basis.”
The hampers will be distributed in mid-December, so the food items need to be dropped in at 261 High St by early December.
“This is a call-out to get a few more people to come in and grab a box,” Ms Peake said.
“Would like to see all 100 boxes filled this year and we need all the help we can get. It could potentially be double last year’s number.
“Given the (coronavirus) outbreak that is happening at the minute, we may have people stuck in isolation or COVID-positive over Christmas who are unable to get out to do their Christmas food shopping.”
Ms Peake said if people needed a hand during the Christmas period they could contact the centre for assistance.
“Absolutely anybody can do this. Whether it be trying to teach their kids a lesson about giving, or joining together as a group to fill some boxes,” she said.
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