Everyone at Anchor was positively filled with Christmas cheer last week, when the Rotary Club of Lilydale visited our offices to deliver presents for all of the children and young people in our homelessness services.
This year, 36 local businesses and organisations participated in the campaign, collecting toys and gift cards to be distributed out to people supported by Anchor as well as Lilydale’s Proactive Policing Unit.
The work done by Anne and Gerry Van Horick to unite the community has resulted in a mountain of toys being donated.
In an earlier statement, Anchor CEO, Heidi Tucker highlighted that young Australians experiencing homelessness at Christmas time face profound isolation, shame, and disconnection.
“This season, many young people will be spending Christmas in tents, boarding houses, motels, and even on the streets.”
“Knowing that there are warm and generous people in the community can be life changing. That is what is important to us – making sure that people experiencing homelessness don’t feel so alone”, Ms Tucker said.
The amazing efforts of the Rotary Club of Lilydale to unite the community and spread joy and generosity at Christmas were captured by the Star Mail this week:
A very big thank you
Anchor would like to thank everyone for their outstanding efforts in helping to source donations of toys and gift cards:
| Aaron Violi MP | Kirkbrae Presbyterian Homes |
|---|---|
| Bridget Vallence MP | Lakeview Kindergarten and Childcare, Lilydale |
| Centrelink, Lilydale | Lilydale Heights College, Interact Club |
| Children’s House of Early Learning, Mt Evelyn | Lilydale Marketplace Shopping Centre |
| Children’s House of Early Learning, Boronia | Manchester Road Dental Surgery, Mooroolbark |
| CIRE – Chirnside Park Community Hub | MiCare- Beatrix Village, Montrose |
| CIRE – Head Office | Mingarra Retirement Village, Croydon |
| CIRE – Yarra Junction Community Hub | Monbulk Family Dental Care |
| Community bank Bendigo, Mooroolbark | Mother Club Shield Bowling Team, Lilydale |
| Community Bank Bendigo, Mt Evelyn | Mt Evelyn Medical Clinic |
| Eastern Regional Library, Lilydale | Papilio Early Learning Centre Croydon |
| Emerald Family Dental Care | Physica Yarra Valley, Chirnside Park |
| Fully Promoted, Glen Waverley | Swinburne Children’s Centre, Norton Rd, Croydon |
| Fully Promoted, Kilsyth | Swinburne Children’s Centre, View Street, Croydon |
| Genesis Health and Fitness, Lilydale | Swinburne Children’s Centre, Wantirna |
| Heritage and Heritage Funerals | Swinburne Children’s Centre, Lilydale |
| Jellis Craig, Lilydale | The Running Company, Lilydale |
| Johnstone and Reimer Lawyers, Lilydale | The Sweat Playground, Lilydale |
