By Margaret Maccoll
The Salvation Army Noosa has packed more Christmas hampers and gifts together for people in need and homeless this year than ever before, which indicates to them that the numbers of people struggling to make ends meet in Noosa is increasing.
Working under their assigned Christmas nicknames Squeezy Peppermint and Perky Toe-Bell, Salvo workers Evelyn and Amanda have been part of a team that has given away 150 hampers and 400 gifts since the last week in November and are working toward preparing more before Christmas for people in need.
“We are a small centre but this year we’ve had to pack more homeless hampers,” Evelyn said. “There are more people living in cars. We have people living under houses and people living in bushland.”
Last week the Rotary Club of Noosa’s Tess Alexandroff handed over a cheque for $2000 to assist Salvos with their work. “Our community is so wanting. Times are tough,” she said.
Tess called on the community to join Rotary in its fundraising efforts to support causes such as the Salvo’s Christmas hampers.
Evelyn said people could continue to donate to the hampers and suggested giving vouchers.
She said any items not given away at Christmas would be put toward helping parents with back to school expenses.
