By Margaret Maccoll
Nine hundred children in Noosa whose families were identified by local charities as being in need received Christmas toys this week thanks to the extraordinary efforts of Santa’s Classy Helpers.
Two months ago Lorraine Kenway thought her Santa’s Classy Helpers would not be able to deliver this year on its commitment of the previous decade to bring a Christmas filled with food, household goods and toys to families in need.
But the generosity of people and a team of helpers came to the party to provide a record 309 families including 900 children a Christmas to remember.
Each year charities including St Vincent de Paul and Salvation Army provide the classy helpers with a list of names of local families including children doing it tough in Noosa.
On Monday a team of about 50 volunteers worked all day to unload box after box of groceries including fresh fruit and vegetables, toiletries, cereals and canned foods and treats such as Christmas puddings which were displayed in supermarket fashion throughout The J Theatre.
The stage was filled with the main attraction, toys.
Prior to the event, with her list in hand and money donated for toys, volunteer Judy Castledine searched the aisles of Noosa toy stores to buy an age and gender-appropriate toy for each child.
This year a number of wooden toys hand made by the Cooroora Woodworkers were also donated.
“The fantastic part of this is the Noosa businesses,“ Judy said on Monday. “They’ve had a hard time this year but they were very generous getting us to where we are today.“
Classy Santa Helpers began about 10 years ago with a morning tea and the idea from Lorraine that she may be able to help a few people.
Now a committee and an army of volunteers spend all year fundraising to make Christmas special for the many people in Noosa in need. This year their fundraising activities were curtailed by COVID-restrictions.
Lorraine said it was the volunteers and the generous donors from inside and outside Noosa that made it special.
“It tells you a lot about human nature,“ she said. “Some people are very generous and some are not.“
On Tuesday a representative from each family arrived at The J Theatre and accompanied by a helper, to ensure an even distribution, made their way around the wonderland of goods to collect items for their family and toys for their children.
“Christmas is a time when great expectations reveal great need and fortunately there’s people like Lorraine and Santa’s Classy Helpers to help meet the need of 309 families this year,” Deputy Mayor Frank Wilkie said.
Lorraine said at the end of the emotion-filled day the volunteers would just go home, with plans for the next year already on their minds.
