COVID ran a distant second to Christmas when it came to the Echuca-Moama Community Projects partnership with Echuca-Moama Uniting Church.
With so many Echuca-Moama residents affected by the pandemic, and its continuing devastation in the community, the organisations banded together to successfully provide some much-needed community spirit leading up to Christmas.
Echuca-Moama Community Projects co-ordinator Julie Langdon-Sands said the toy drive resulted in 229 children from the region receiving some toys for Christmas morning.
“It was a great achievement in a year when so many families are impacted by COVID, along with the usual challenges they face each day,” Mrs Langdon-Sands said.
“Volunteers were on hand to support families as they attended and made it a warm and welcoming experience.
“A huge thanks is to be extended to the many local that donated gifts and the businesses that support our drive by being a collection point.
‘’So many toys were received through the Echuca Pool, Bendigo Bank partnered by Bennetts Sports and Apex, The Riverine Herald office, Echuca Twin Rivers School, Moama Village and Meninya St Pharmacies.
“And then we received donations from so many small groups such as the Bridge Project Contractors, F45 Gym, Patterson Finance — it was truly heart warming and inspiring.”
A community lunch was held on Christmas Day for people who were not fortunate enough to have families or friends close by and would have been alone.
“This year we had 65 people in attendance who got to savour a delicious hot Christmas lunch with all the trimmings,’’ Mrs Langdon-Sands said.
“That was again due to the generosity of local business.
“We were able to play some fun games, with some lovely gifts as prizes.
“We also had so many people and small groups donate toward the Christmas hampers that were delivered personally by Santa, to ensure everyone had a superb day.”
Mrs Langdon-Sands said the community had again stood tall and supported this event, so everyone involved deserved a huge thank you.
“Thank you to The Workies, Echuca Smallgoods, Rich River Party Hire, Echuca 1st Scouts, Beechworth Bakery, The Riverine Herald, Dragon Distributors, Students of Twin Rivers School and 208 Central, Crossenvale Community House, Echuca Neighbourhood House, Rich River Ladies Bunkers Club and the many others that all contributed in some way to make this day special, after a tough year,” she said.