Christmas hampers helping our neighbours ‘thrive’ the holiday season

Loaves and Fishes Tasmania is proud to supply 500 food hampers to guests at the Colony 47 and Hope at Paul’s Kitchen Christmas events.

Loaves and Fishes will provide a mix of fresh and non-perishable food to help vulnerable Tasmanians thrive and not simply survive the Christmas and New Year period, when so many people will experience loneliness and poverty.

“It’s already been a brutal year for many Tasmanians due to COVID-19, and this Christmas will be particularly difficult due to the ongoing effects of a pandemic that has plunged many people into food insecurity for the first time in their lives,” said Loaves and Fishes general manager, Aaron Kropf.

“We expect an increased demand for our ongoing emergency food relief services in the first quarter of next year, particularly when Tasmanians get their credit card bills and have to outfit kids for school.”

Go to our donate page to make your generous contribution to the hampers, and to our general emergency food relief services.

Colony 47 in Hobart has hosted a Christmas lunch for hundreds of vulnerable Tasmanians for more than 30 years. The traditional sit-down dinner has been replaced due to COVID-19 concerns with a pick-up or home-delivered dinner. Meals and gifts will be pre-ordered.

Hope at St Paul’s Kitchen in Devonport will continue with a staggered sit-down, three-course meal starting from 1pm on Christmas Day and continuing until everyone is fed.

Gordon Kelly, who pastors Hope Christian Church with his wife Dianne, said the kitchen would feed 150 to 300 people on Christmas Day.

“Everyone and anyone is welcome. You don’t need to book or register, but you may have to be patient.”