Spreading the Christmas Care
by SANDI MILLER
7th October 2024
FOOD RELIEF charity CareNet has been working in the community since 2018 to make food accessible to those experiencing food insecurity.
Working together with other community groups, CareNet provides food relief from multiple locations, with a centre in Templestowe providing a weekly food market; a network of satellite food pantries across Manningham, including at Warrandyte Neighbourhood House, and a mobile food pantry, which visits a variety of locations to distribute fresh and pre-packaged food to those in food distress.
CareNet CEO Kellie Wishart says the organisation’s team works hard to provide food “that is nutritious, culturally appropriate, and generous.”
To assist with this work, they receive food from several sources, including food rescue (collecting excess food from supermarkets that would otherwise go to landfill), donations, and in the lead up to Christmas, they are asking the community to participate in CareNet’s largest food drive of the year, the Reverse Advent Calendar.
Unlike the traditional advent calendar, which involves receiving something each day, participants in the Reverse Advent Calendar give an item daily throughout November.
Once completed, you will have created a Christmas hamper for a family in need.
In December, these hampers are distributed through local food relief programs, bringing hope and joy to families who need it most.
There are no hard and fast rules with what needs to be placed in the hamper, some people shop for everything at once, while others pick up items weekly.
You can even let your kids take charge with a shopping list — it’s all about what works for you.
Kellie said she recommends buying the brands your family enjoys or whatever fits your budget.
You can even make a culturally or dietarily specific box, such as gluten-free or halal.
Just be sure to label the top of the box with the details so it can be matched to the right family.
You can even add extra items to hampers if you choose, such as Christmas decorations or sweet treats.
Schools and workplaces can get involved in the program as well.
Interested businesses and schools can contact CareNet to arrange a workplace Reverse Advent Calendars so staff, customers, families, and students can participate, or you can set a goal of filling a certain number of hampers and run an internal food drive to fill them.
Reverse Advent Calendar kits are available from October 14 at participating Community Collection Points.
Once you have created your hamper, you are welcome to drop it back at the Community Collection Point where you picked it up.
The points closest to Warrandyte are:
- Manningham Christian Centre
143 Parker Street, Templestowe - Warrandyte Neighbourhood House
168 Yarra Street, Warrandyte. - Wonga Park Community Cottage
9-13 Old Yarra Road, Wonga Park
Kellie said the initiative would not be the success it is without the collaboration of community groups, businesses, churches, charities, and the broader community.
“This is our fourth year running the Reverse Advent Calendar, and each year it has almost doubled.”
From 2021, the program gave out 156 hampers without sponsorship, and in 2023, CareNet distributed 760 hampers.
This year, CareNet has almost 1,000 sponsored boxes.
Kellie said that due to the increased volume, this year, CareNet is partnering with Templestowe Baptist Church, which has donated part of its youth hall to handle the logistics.
All the collected hampers will go there for checking and then distribution to food relief programs.
Kellie said they are looking for volunteers to assist at this site.
The food relief hampers will then be given to food relief programs throughout the community for distribution to community members experiencing hardship.
The distribution network includes CareNet, Doncare, Urban Life, Nillumbik Lions, Rotary Club of Diamond Creek, Healthability, Berry Street, LinC Manningham Inc, Linc Eltham, Warrandyte Neighbourhood House, Diamond Valley Community Support Inc, Wonga Park Community Cottage, and Manningham Uniting Church.
Kellie said she would also like to thank the following for supporting the program.
Federal Member for Menzies Keith Wolahan MP, Manningham Uniting Church, Nillumbik Lions, Rotary Club of Diamond Creek, Rotary Manningham City, Park Orchards Lions, and Rotary Eltham
For more information, to register for a workplace hamper, to volunteer, or to find out about receiving food relief, visit www.carenet.org.au.
