Christmas Hampers for Gympie (& surrounds)

Merry Christmas to you (getting in early), my name is Naomi Wilson and I am one of those people that love to help out my community. We have, in the past organised Christmas Hampers for the people in the Gympie area, not only in the aftermath of the 2022 floods but for some years now.

With the massive increase in rents and the cost of existing going through the roof, a lot of families are beyond struggling. I know that this is an issue all over but a lot of people are still not recovered from the 2020 floods and this is their 3rd christmas, in a lot of cases, of still living in a house that doesn't have any walls or ceiling panels.

I am not only helping out those still affected by the 2020 floods. There are a lot of people who have had their rents increased by over 200%. I know of families that were living in houses for $250 a week only 4 years ago that are now having to pay $650 a week.

Many families have LESS the $300 a fortnight after they have paid the rent.

That's $300 to pay for fuel, school fees, clothes, power, phone, insurance, all car maintenance, haircuts, shoes, and food. You don't have to be a mathematician to work out - well that is not going to work out.

So kids miss out on School Excursions, some have missed out on going to Graduation because their school fees are behind. There are no music lessons. Joining sports clubs, no new shoes, outdated Laptops (because you have to have a laptop to go to high school). No Guides, No Scouts. Kids get to a point of not asking for anything because they know there is no money.

Mums (and Dad's) often miss a lot of meals as food is the only thing they can "fudge". There are no coffees out. Certainly no lunches to catch up with friends. Nothing new to wear. Often medication is missed. It is a very lonely track to be on.

So many people are moving into their cars because it is the only option in order to survive.

When you are in this situation you really don't see any light at the end of the tunnel.

Christmas isn't a time of good times and happy thoughts. It causes a lot of dread. Parents feel like failures. Kids feel excluded.

These might sound like harsh words but it is very true.

This is where we can step in and offer a bit of help. To know that you can celebrate Christmas Day with a bit of special food (that you could never afford). Have a few treats and everyone gets a present to open (that is a surprise and you didn't have to wrap it yourself and then act all surprised in front of the kids). That....... Just makes the day.

I can promise that every dollar that is donated, your whole dollar will go out to someone in the way of food or a small present. There is no administration fees from my end. I am not driving a company car. I work out of an old Yaris and a farm truck.

Last year we were delivering Hampers out on Christmas Day only to come home to realise we didn't really have a lot of food ourselves!!! The irony. We had Honey Toast as our Christmas Lunch. So we are living it ourselves. But we have a roof over our heads and we are healthy.

So I give you my assurance that ALL the funds go to those who need a Hamper.

I thank you for reading all to this point. And I thank all those who help me make peoples lives just that little bit brighter. I am working on a really big, huge project which (if I can pull it off) will change a lot of people's lives for the better but for now let's get some Hampers to some families in real need.

Thank you again

Naomi Wilson