Canberra Hospital Foundation Christmas Appeal
Make a difference with your end of year giving and donate to Canberra Hospital Foundation’s Christmas Appeal. Funds raised go to support: clinical trials and medical research in Canberra; therapeutic and supportive programs; transformations of away-from-bed areas; and the purchase of speciality medical equipment – all of which enhance the patient experience throughout the year. Give back to your community this Christmas via canberrahospitalfoundation.org.au/christmasappeal
GIVIT donation of the week: Experience vouchers
GIVIT is working with an emergency relief service in the Capital Region to assist families struggling in the lead up to Christmas. They assist people escaping family and domestic violence, experiencing unemployment, and young people living in care. The rising cost of living has increased demand this year with many people unable to buy Christmas presents for children in their care. They are requesting the donation of experience vouchers such as movies or tenpin bowling to make the holiday season a bit brighter for people in need. 100% of donated funds received by GIVIT will be used to purchase vouchers. To donate or fund, visit givit.org.au/whats-needed, search Category: ‘Experience Vouchers; Location: ‘ACT’. GIVIT supports more than 400 charities and community groups across the Capital Region by matching your items with people who need them most.
The Smith Family Christmas Appeal
This festive season, The Smith Family is aiming to raise $5.6 million nationally through its annual Christmas Appeal to provide 13,000 students living in disadvantage with essential learning and mentoring programs to help them stay engaged in school – particularly crucial after the challenges experienced throughout the pandemic. Donations can be made at thesmithfamily.com.au
Dancing in the Park
Monaro Folk Society invites you to join us on Monday 19 December at 6.45pm for free dances on Stage 88 in Commonwealth Park for all the family. Further evenings in January and February will follow. Learn Australian Bush dances with our expert teachers in a family friendly, fun and relaxed setting or just listen to the traditional music from our live band. More info: monarofolk.org.au
Perinatal Picnic in the Park
Join the Perinatal Wellbeing Centre for a free fun-filled picnic day at the Senate Gardens next to Old Parliament House on Monday 19 December 10am-2pm. In addition to lots of activities for the little ones in your life, there will be some great self-care activities, and opportunities to chat with Perinatal Wellbeing Centre team members. Join in the fun, or just enjoy the opportunity to connect with other parents. Our great big marquee, kindly lent to us by the John James Foundation, will enable activities to continue despite the weather. BYO lunch and picnic rug or sit under cover of the marquee out of the sun. A food and coffee van will be onsite also for that all-important pick me up. Attendance is free but please register via perinatalwellbeingcentre.org.au/Event/perinatal-picnic-in-the-park
Omnia Adventurers and Social Club
Would you like to meet new people and forge new friendships while enjoying a wide range of social activities? Omnia Adventurers and Social Club could be the place for you! Our activities include drinks and dinner on Friday nights, regular walks around town, bushwalking, movie and gallery outings and more. We are a welcoming group of people who would love to meet you. Please come and join us. If you would like to meet us, please email our membership secretary at [email protected]
Christmas choral music
Lady’s Mantle, led by Maia Harrison, and Yarralumla Uniting Church invites you to a casual evening of choral music for the Christmas season on Friday 16 December 7pm in the beautiful gardens of the church, Denman St, Yarralumla. Bring snacks and a rug. We will have some chairs available and if the weather is unpleasant, we will move into the church. There will be community carol singing too!
Hawker Community Repair Cafe
Hosted by Hawker Men’s Shed, the next Repair Cafe is on Sunday 18 December 10.30am-1.30pm at the Hawker Softball grounds in Walhollow Street. Repairers will teach skills to fix bicycles, mowers, electrical items, electronic gadgets, toys, small timber items, clothing and sharpen tools. There will be a stall for used tools, possum and bird boxes, and environmentally friendly Xmas gifts and plants. Entry by gold coin donation. More info: hawkermensshed.com.au
GIVIT Christmas Appeal
Not-for-profit donation platform GIVIT has launched the annual GIVIT Christmas Appeal with thousands of ways to help Aussies in need this Christmas. With more than 16,000 essential items already registered on the Christmas list the needs of many people across the country are acute.
GIVIT CEO Sarah Tennant said the onset of the pandemic created extra barriers for people experiencing hardship to seek access to support services. “We have seen requests for support more than double since the beginning of the pandemic, catastrophic flooding across parts of Australia this year as well as the rising cost of living has meant thousands of people are now at breaking point,” said Sarah. “The good news is that there are some really simple ways to help out, through GIVIT you can donate Christmas presents for families recovering from floods or kitchen essentials to someone escaping domestic violence to ensure they can cook Christmas lunch, or even a fuel voucher to a person experiencing financial hardship to enable them to visit family over the Christmas period.”
GIVIT works with almost 250 charities and support groups across ACT to ensure people get exactly what they need, when they need it. “We know that the act of giving is actually good for your mental health, donating to someone in need through GIVIT is win-win both for the donor and the recipient,” said Sarah. “To receive a donation in your time of need from a stranger is really special, particularly at this time of the year. The impact of these donations can’t be underestimated, they have an immediate and tangible impact.” 100% of donated funds received by GIVIT will be used to purchase essential items for people in need. To find out how you can help out your local community this Christmas visit givit.org.au/christmas
