With cost of living pressures in danger of depriving local families of Christmas, the people of Benalla have once again gone over and above.
Woolworths Benalla has a trolley in its entrance where shoppers can donate food to be distributed to those in need via the Salvation Army.
It will be there until the week before Christmas to give the Salvos time to distribute items in time for December 25.
On top of that, Year 9 students at FCJ College have also provided a trolley of groceries as part of their project-based learning class.
Salvation Army captain Ben Anderson said this was another example of how much support the charity has in Benalla.
“Woolworths is one of our great partners in helping to feed people,” Mr Anderson said.
“Particularly at Christmas, it’s wonderful to see the generosity of Benalla, and thank you to Woolworths for organising this.
“It really does mean that, in a time when many people are finding the cost of living really challenging, we’re able to provide some great food for them and bring a little bit of happiness and hope this Christmas.”
Woolworths Benalla’s Carol McNulty has been instrumental in the donation drive.
“I’m very passionate about this,” she said.
“To be able to help feed people at Christmas feels really good.
“We also have a big bin full of toys people have donated here (under the tree in the Woolworths entrance).
“So if anyone wants to donate a toy, and it doesn’t have to be one they bought from Woolys, they can leave it there.”
FCJ College learning leader Sally Moore said students embraced the school’s participation in the food drive.
“Our Year 9s have been learning all about food insecurity,” she said.
“As a way of addressing that, within the local community, they organised the food drive.
“All Year 9s participated. They decided what they would do and how they would do it.
Ms Moore said the beauty of the project-based learning class was students learn without feeling like they’re in a typical school lesson.
“It keeps them engaged in a fun way,” she said.
“The food drive was something they really wanted to do as a way of giving something back to their community.
“They did a great job.”