Local charities, businesses and community members are banding together to put a smile on the faces of those less fortunate this holiday season.
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St Vincent de Paul is gearing up to deliver around 300 Christmas hampers filled with food, essentials and children's toys this Christmas, made up of donations from across the community.
One such business taking part this year is Wagga's Australian Red Cross Lifeblood branch. Staff members decided to pitch in and buy various essentials for the hampers, instead of giving each other Kris Kringle gifts.
"It feels nice to give to someone else, especially after the year we've had," manager Neil Wright said.
The donation was facilitated by St Vincent de Paul's Micah Hub. Wagga Vinnies president Peter Burgess said their Christmas hamper efforts wouldn't be possible without the collaboration of people right across the community.
"There's a number of organisations that give us this sort of support and we in turn support those in need," he said.
"What we've got here [at the Red Cross] is a real microcosm of what people right across the community do."
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Another key part of the annual Christmas hampers is the Wagga Toy Run. Coordinator Pat Combs said it has been running for around four decades, with an aim of fundraising to purchase toys to add to the hampers.
"It feels nice to give to someone else, especially after the year we've had."
- Neil Wright
With the help of other local charities such as the Salvation Army, around 500 hampers in total will be delivered in Wagga and surrounds this year alone.
Mr Burgess said being involved in such a project is personally rewarding.
"What you feel is that joy of giving, of doing something, putting something back into the community," he said.
Those in need are able to request a hamper by calling 6921 7337 before November 30.
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