Families in need across the Darling Downs will have 10,000 extra reasons to smile this Christmas, with the launch today of the Metro Care Loads of Love Appeal which aims to collect and distribute 10,000kg of non-perishable food and personal items.
The Loads of Love Appeal sets out to make Christmas a little happier for households in need by providing them with donations of non–perishable food and personal items like canned food, pasta, cereal, meal bases and toiletries.
Now in its seventh year, the Loads of Love Appeal has set the ambitious target of gathering 10,000 kilograms of donations this Christmas, as well as expanding its reach to assist households in Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast, as well as Toowoomba.
The Loads of Love Appeal also announced today that it was partnering with Heritage Bank to widen its collection capabilities.
All 61 Heritage Bank branches across southern Queensland will this year act as collection points.
People wishing to help the Appeal can simply pick up a bag at the Heritage branch, take it home and fill it up, then drop it back.
“There are many households from all walks of life that will be doing it tough this year,” Metro Care operations manager, Matt Gregg said.
“The Appeal is designed to allow everybody that is able, to help to contribute towards relieving some of the pressure people will be feeling over Christmas.”
The Metro Care Loads of Love Appeal has been running since 2009 and has in that time collected more than 17,000kg of food.
In 2015 alone, with the support of the entire Toowoomba community, the Appeal collected 6500kg.
Anyone can make a difference and even with a donation of just one kilogram people will be making a significant contribution toward supporting their community.
The Appeal has gone to new heights in 2016. As well as the support of Heritage Bank, numerous sponsors are backing the initiative and many local businesses are also rallying together to donate as a group.
A collection point has been established at the Grand Central Shopping Centre. People can visit the stall to pick up bags that can they can take home fill with their donations
The bags can then be brought back to the stall at Grand Central or at any Heritage Bank Branch where they will be weighed and added to a running total.
The collected items will be distributed regionally in partnership with Lifeline Darling Downs and South West Queensland with particular preference being given to families that need the most support during Christmas.
Heritage Bank CEO, Peter Lock, said the Appeal did a great job in helping brighten Christmas for households that were doing it tough.
“Christmas should be a time of joy and happiness, but for some households it can be extremely difficult because they just can’t afford to celebrate the way they would like,” he said.
“Heritage is committed to making our communities better places to live for everyone. That’s why we’re absolutely delighted to be able to help the Loads of Love Appeal in extending its collections reach, and making Christmas a little brighter for many families.”