For many kids and families around Australia, the festive season can be a tough time.
They might not get to enjoy the luxury of eating festive feasts, opening gifts from Santa and spending quality family time together on Christmas.
This year, The Greek Herald has decided to put together a list of how you can help those in need have a very merry Christmas, by supporting local charities, Greek Orthodox parishes and organisations.
Christmas Toy Drive by the Greek Orthodox Parish and Community of Kogarah
The Greek Orthodox Parish and Community of Kogarah in Sydney has organised a Christmas Toy Drive for people to donate to this Christmas.
After already gathering more than 1,000 toys to go towards hospitals, including the Sydney Children’s Hospital in Randwick, shelters and schools with students with special needs, the Kogarah parish is now expanding where its toys will be delivered.
An announcement made on The Greek Orthodox Parish and Community of Kogarah’s Facebook page shared that they will be assisting Con Theocharides’ charity ‘A Touch of Kindness’ with their Christmas drive on Monday, December 18, and ‘Pantry4ThePeople’ under Rachael Smith.
If you’re interested in helping support these initiatives, the Kogarah parish asks that you contact Bishop Christodoulos of Magnesia or Father Athanasios Giatsios. The parish number is: 9587 5945.
Annual Toy Drive by the Cretan Association of Sydney and NSW
The Cretan Association of Sydney and NSW is back for another year of collecting toys for their annual Toy Drive for sick and disadvantaged children this Christmas.
They ask for anyone interested in donating to purchase new and unwrapped children’s toys and drop them off at the Cretan Association’s Christmas Party at Ashbury Senior Citizen’s Centre on Friday, December 15.
The toys will then be distributed to children in various hospitals around Sydney.
Christmas hampers for refugees by the Greek Orthodox Parish and Community of Saint Nectarios in Burwood
The Greek Orthodox Parish and Community of Saint Nectarios in Burwood, Sydney is back for its sixth year in a row supporting Youth In Action as they donate 120 Christmas hampers to refugee families through Metro Assist.
If you’re interested in supporting the cause, St Nectarios invites you to come along to The Cottage at the church in Burwood on Wednesday, December 13 from 7 pm to 9pm, to help pack hampers. Alternatively, you can make donations via this link.
Christmas Food Hamper and Toy Appeal of the Greek Welfare Centre of Victoria
The Greek Welfare Centre of Victoria is also playing its part in giving back this Christmas by organising food hampers and toys to donate to those in need.
In a joint effort between Victoria’s Greek Orthodox parishes and the Greek Welfare Centre, the 2023 Christmas Food Hamper and Toy Appeal invites people to donate non-perishable food items that are in-date and tightly sealed (for the hampers) and unopened toys or as-new toys (for the Toy Appeal).
The donations can be dropped off at all Greek Orthodox churches in Victoria until Sunday, December 17. Alternatively, they can be dropped off at the Greek Welfare Centre at the Holy Monastery of Axion Esti at 7 Hartington Street, Northcote until Thursday, December 21.
For more information, contact the Greek Welfare Centre Victoria on (03) 9486 6588 to speak with Mr Yiannis Pilalidis.
*Do you know of another charitable cause that should be included in this article? Reach out to The Greek Herald via info@foreignlanguage.com.au and let us know.
