Spirit of the season is strong at Bethania

The fun and fundraising continues to roll out at Bethania Community Centre.

The Centre, in conjunction with local charity Formally Forever After, is collecting donations to help build hampers to donate to locals in time for Christmas.

The gift hampers will go to those who have done something exceptional in the community this year or are in need of support over the holidays.

Centre Manager Ashleigh Hassell says they are looking for donations of nonperishable food along with ‘party items’.

‘We are looking for things that can help bring some joy to the recipients, something that you might like to have on your table on Christmas Day,’ Ashleigh says.

Division 6 Councillor Tony Hall says donations can be dropped off at the Centre, at 88-118 Station Road, up until Saturday, 20 December.

That’s also the date for the Centre’s free community Christmas party from 8 am to noon, which is open to everyone.

‘It’s going to be an awesome community celebration which can be made even better by donating to help give someone else a merry Christmas,’ Cr Hall says.

The Christmas hamper program follows the Centre’s hugely successful Pink Day and month-long fundraising in October to raise money for breast cancer research, and its massive support of Movember to increase awareness of prostate cancer and men’s mental health.

Loganlea Community Centre will spread the Christmas cheer with a family fun day on Saturday, 13 December.

There will be market stalls, Christmas crafts, a cake-cooking competition and free sausage sizzle from 10 am to 1 pm at 28-32 Timms Street, Loganlea.