For one festive afternoon, the Kyabram Red Hatters traded their signature crimson headwear for jolly Santa hats and joined in to season of giving.
Each year the Red Hatters put on a Christmas lunch, celebrate a year of gatherings and give gifts to one another; however, Marlene Kerwin - queen of the Kyabram Red Hatters for the past 17 years - decided this year would be different.
On Thursday, December 5, at the annual Christmas break-up the Kyabram Red Hatters handed over 35 gifts to Kyabram Salvation Army captain Jacky Targett for their annual Christmas Cheer program.
Mrs Kerwin said she had heard of the program and questioned why they would gift to one another when they could donate to those who may not receive a gift at all this year.
“Everyone was more than willing to donate to the Salvos... and I was thrilled to know that (the gifts) would go to Kyabram families,” she said.
The Salvation Army captain Jacky Targett said she was “overwhelmed” to hear that instead of gifting to one another this year, the Red Hatters wanted to put their money towards donating toys to the annual Christmas Cheer program.
The Christmas Cheer program aims to provide families going through tough times with toys, food and essentials to make Christmas special.
They do so by providing parents with toys to give to their children or by giving shopping vouchers to put on a Christmas dinner.
“We have just been beside ourselves with the support this year” Capt Targett said.
She said with the support from groups like the Red Hatters and the Yarn Bombing group - who donated over $500 to the Salvation Army through meat vouchers - they will be able to make sure that all families are accounted for this Christmas.
“It just shows how collaborative a town like Kyabram is... they all want to help each other out, it’s a really, really amazing thing.”
Mrs Kerwin said this won’t be the last year that they give up their gifts to the Salvation Army.
“We’ll do this every year now.”
Community members are urged to bring their generous donations of gifts, vouchers, food and cash to The Salvos Shop by Friday, December 13, to ensure timely distribution to those in need this Christmas.
Capt Targett also asked anyone going Christmas shopping to buy an extra toy for kids who are not as fortunate.
These toys could be a soft toy or plush, a book, Lego, arts and crafts materials or anything that would make a child happy unwrapping it at Christmas time.
Anyone who needs help this Christmas with either getting food on the table or making the kids happy with a small gift can fill out a Christmas Cheer application.
These applications can be found at the Salvation Army shop and need to be returned to the shop by Friday, December 13.
All households who fill out an application will receive a small hamper, a small number of vouchers and children over 12 years old get toys and extras as available.