The lead up to Christmas was already going to be tough for many farmers in the Benalla Rural City Council area before the devastating fires flared up in December.
Ivan Lister, the Council’s Rural Outreach Worker who works with rural families who are facing difficult circumstances, put out a plea to Council staff and Councillors for donations of hampers for farming households which were particularly in need.
The Council responded generously, with donations of $600 in cash and several boxes full of food.
The Woolworths Benalla Staff Association also donated ten x $10 food vouchers and a trolley full of fresh food, and Life Church Benalla offered to donate extra goods and to pack everything into large plastic tubs.
“The Council has also allocated an extra $500 which will go towards the purchase of food vouchers for Ivan to distribute throughout the next year,” said Mayor Justin King.
“The donations were delivered right to the doors of ten families, bringing them a bit of Christmas cheer.”
Staff also prepared 35 other hampers for families affected by the fires, which were distributed as part of the recovery effort.
