The Salvation Army and Horsham’s Christian Emergency Food Centre have both reported record donations over the festive period.

Food centre client assessment manager Bev Miatke said she was stunned by how much the region’s residents had opened their hearts and wallets, with donations flooding in for the centre’s Christmas hampers.

“We actually gave away about 480 hampers, which is pretty close to a record. We usually do between 430 and 450,” she said.

“A lot of people are thinking about others at this time of year, which is amazing. We had the Lutheran school in Horsham, in the last week before they closed, get all the kids to bring food. They donated well over $2000 of non-perishable foods.

“We also had lots of smaller donations, just regular people coming in with a few bags here or there. One young Joey did a fundraiser collecting a few bags of food from her neighbours that she brought in just before we closed.”

The Salvation Army Horsham’s Major Diane Romari said toy donations were also overwhelming.

“On balance, this probably is the best year we’ve had,” she said. “It just keeps on growing”.

Major Romari said people who regularly left gifts under the Christmas tree in Horsham Plaza and at the Salvation Army centre were again generous, which she said was pertinent given the price of gifts is rising along with the cost of living.

“We see different people (come to look at toys every year). Some feel a bit embarrassed or nervous about coming, but you try to be encouraging and say this is a community serving each other,” she said. 

“The fact people are able to come on their own and have a look around and perhaps have a little conversation with us, I think that makes a difference. 

“You make them feel comfortable, and you never know – maybe this year they’ll be the ones putting something underneath the tree.”

Mrs Miatke urged people to continue giving into the new year as the need for help among residents continued.

“There are lots of ebbs and flows,” she said. 

“As we go back into the school year, people have to pay up for uniforms and books and things like that and we often get a big demand then.

“And once people start to get the utility bills towards the end of summer and winter, the demand also increases.”

The food centre shored up its short-term future in the past month, receiving a $225,000 funding commitment from the federal government.

Mrs Miatke said the centre would now receive $25,000 for the period up until July next year, and then $50,000 for each of the next four years.

“Some of that will go towards administration, and some to help with emergency relief – not just food but also medical prescriptions and appointments out of town,” she said.