By MARG STORK
DANDENONG and District Benevolent Society has found yet another way to spread Christmas joy this holiday season.
In a bid to give more people gifts than in former years, the society has decided to create ‘shoe box gifts’ and is appealing to the public to donate empty shoe boxes to fill and also small items to fill them.
The hardworking manager at the benevolent society’s opportunity shop Margaret Ladner said: “As shoe boxes are not large, we would greatly appreciate donations of small toys, health care items, colouring pencils, yo-yos, whistles, candy — anything that will put a smile on people’s faces, in particular children.”
The op shop volunteers are also seeking gifts of beds, clean bedding, furniture, clothing, kitchen items, and tinned food to assist the city’s needy.
The shoe box gifts certainly won’t go astray this Christmas season — in the current climate of loss of jobs, soaring bills and uncertainty, more and more people of diverse age groups are seeking help from the society.
Treasurer Geoff Ladner said the society was now seeking a larger location to hold furniture and clothing.
He said that in the past financial year, 2000 clients were helped. “We hope that this will come to fruition not too long in the future to get additional space,” said Mr Ladner, who is Margaret Ladner’s husband.
In the meantime, the society’s volunteer helpers and its hard-working committee continue to maintain its motto, ‘Providing help where needed’.
“With the settlement of many more refugees and asylum seekers, plus the economic situation and loss of employment, many families are having a real battle to even keep food on the table,” Mr Ladner said.
“There has been greater demand this year for food bags, food vouchers, furniture and clothes, and we thank the many people who have donated many and varied items to our op shop.
“This year, as usual, we have co-operated amicably with other local agencies and I thank them for their assistance.”
At the society’s annual meeting, Barbara Siddall was elected president, Wilma Southern as secretary, Geoff Ladner as treasurer and Margaret Ladner as op shop manager.
Twenty-five volunteers help at the shop, which is open Monday-Thursday from 9am-3pm, and on Fridays from 9am-2pm. The op shop can be contacted on 9793 3736.
Do you have a milestone, memory or question for Marg? Email marg@yourweekly.com.au or post submissions to A moment with Marg, c/o Greater Dandenong Weekly, PO Box 318, Dandenong 3175.
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