Help Border Food 4 Thought deliver festive feast

With only 15 weeks until Christmas, the Wodonga security worker has put the call out to the community and Border businesses to join him in his goal of filling hampers to help 50 families.

Through his Border Food 4 Thought Facebook page, Mr Winchester is collecting funds – and food – to help struggling families put a festive feast on the dinner table come December 25.

It started last year with a simple Facebook post after the 24-year-old decided he could help two families enjoy a brighter Christmas, with just a little effort on his part.

The heart-felt reaction of those he helped inspired him to expand his crusade but he needs the support of the community and local businesses to deliver a merrier Christmas to more families.

“Christmas can be a very sad time of the year,” he said.

“If I can do something to give people hope or feel a bit brighter if they have had a rough year, that’s what Christmas is really about.

“Our family always gathers together for Christmas lunch and dinner and to me that’s one of the most important things.”

Already offers of help have poured in via his Facebook page, with one woman donating a box of fruit and vegetables and another woman offering to drive one-and-a-half hours from her home to help pack and deliver hampers when the time comes.

Mr Winchester said every little bit helped with donations as small as two dollars gratefully accepted; loose change that could make someone’s day.

But he said it would be fantastic if a local business could get on board with bulk donations of fruit and vegetables or meat.

All food donations will be collected between December 20 and 24 – if people are looking for ideas, think no further than what you would like for your own festive feast, from turkeys, hams and chicken to puddings, custard, bon bons, napkins, or chocolate.

For details on making a donation or if you would like to nominate someone who needs a helping hand, go to the Border Food 4 Thought Facebook page.