So, where does the money go?

By Aaron Kropf, general manager, Loaves and Fishes Tasmania.

Thanks to you we have sourced, decorated, gathered, sorted, filled, packed, stacked, wrapped and delivered over 500 Christmas hampers for distribution on Christmas Day through Colony 47 in Hobart and Paul’s Kitchen in Devonport. The hampers are in addition to our ongoing, statewide free emergency food relief work.

It’s been an incredibly hectic, stressful but also rewarding time thanks to our amazing staff, suppliers, volunteers and donors.

So far, we have raised $37,000 of the $40,000 goal we set to supply hampers and provide meals for our State’s most vulnerable into the New Year.

We reset our target when we reached our original goal of $25,000. We are inspired by the support from so many individuals, businesses and churches.

Financial gifts supplement what we receive free each week from many generous primary producers and supermarkets.

Your gift pays for ingredients for our ready-to-eat meals and school breakfast items prepared in our Devonport kitchen, fuel, vehicle maintenance, power . . .

The more we get, the more we can do.

For many, Christmas and New Year is a scramble to feed families and source presents, and often a reminder to the poor and vulnerable of what they don’t have.

Not every Christmas Day is merry!

We have two days remaining to give a financial gift so Tasmanians can thrive, and not just survive this festive season.

We can make two nutritious meals for every $1, and your tax deductible gift goes to Tasmanians through Tasmanian agencies.

Thank you to those who have given of their time, talent and finances this year. We simply couldn’t do it without you.

We are sincerely thankful, and wish you and your families a safe, peaceful and restful Christmas and New Year.