General News
8 December, 2022
Clunes reverse advent calendar gets underway
Businesses and community groups in Clunes are banding together this Christmas to spread cheer among residents — with a reverse advent calendar in the works. The town’s pharmacy, Neighbourhood House and the Clunes Football and Netball Club have...
Businesses and community groups in Clunes are banding together this Christmas to spread cheer among residents — with a reverse advent calendar in the works.
The town’s pharmacy, Neighbourhood House and the Clunes Football and Netball Club have partnered up to make boxes available for people to fill, following which they will be delivered to those in need on December 20.
“It’s a fantastic collaboration and it’s such a simple idea that has taken on a life of its own. And at the local level, Clunes has multiple business that are so actively supportive of it,” Clunes Neighbourhood House manager Lana de Kort said.
“Anglicare have also helped us with additional hampers, and the Victorian State Government who assisted with increased emergency relief when the floods impacted Clunes, are also providing support to families still affected by those events.
“Working together as a town, supported by such simple, great ideas as the reverse advent calendar gives everyone an opportunity to make an impact at a time when caring for each other means a lot.”
Ms de Kort said that the community had been through a lot this past couple of months and that additional support was needed to help them.
“People are doing it really tough this year between the cost of living, recent flooding impact and living with COVID,” she said.
“We know there are people who need a little bit of cheer.”
Last year more than 60 boxes were distributed across the community, and this year the groups would like to achieve a similar result. People can put non-perishable food items or gifts in their boxes.
“People can either call the neighbourhood house or they can just pop into businesses like the pharmacy and grab a box and fill them out,” Ms de Kort said.
“The only way a small town like Clunes can have an impact is if we work together and this is a perfect example of that at a time when it’s so needed.”
To enquire about how to pick up a reverse advent box to fill call 5345- 4078 or simply pop into the Clunes Pharmacy in Fraser Street.
If you’re a Clunes resident, you can also contact the neighbourhood house to register for a hamper — but availability is limited.