EVERY year Donna Hanlon and her team of volunteers put together personalised hampers for people they’ll never get to meet.
Donna is the general manager of the Rosewood Support Centre and she co-ordinates the annual Christmas hamper drive.
She has a deep understanding of local residents and knows many won’t take up an offer of a free Christmas lunch because meeting new people can be daunting.
“Some people get quite anxious around strangers and prefer to stay at home and in familiar surroundings,” she said.
“Every year we put special hampers together and they are full of the recipient’s favourite things.”
Last year volunteers delivered 78 Christmas hampers.
It was all very cloak and dagger because delivery volunteers live outside the area as an added measure of ensuring privacy.
Recipients are nominated and volunteers know their gender, age and interest … and that is it.
“If a man enjoys fishing, we’d include fishing equipment and if a woman likes to read, we could add a new book,” she said.
“We also buy new toys for the children based on their gender and likes.”
Hamper goodies are bought using money donated by churches in the surrounding area and donated by community members.
