THE REAL MEANING OF CHRISTMAS

The industry associated charity help2help are serving up Christmas Dinner this year for people living in poverty via their Ratha’s Place cafes in St Marys and Oak Flats.

Earlier this year, help2help ramped up their operations within Australia, opening the first of their cafés to provide training and employment for people living with disabilities.

As an extension of this, they have committed to helping vulnerable groups within Australia by integrating the café operations into a structured program that can provide meals for individuals and families who are in need, starting with Christmas Day and moving to an ongoing operation in the new year.

By integrating the café operations and training programs into this new initiative, help2help will not only provide people with nutritious meals but will also involve the Ratha’s Place staff in a worthwhile cause, giving them a huge sense of achievement and self-worth within the community where they may have previously felt undervalued.

Blayne Webb, Director of Barrington Group Australia and founder of help2help, has reached out to the industry to ask for assistance with their Christmas project. They are looking for donations of produce, cash or other goods that might be of use.

Both St Marys Band Club and Club Windang have put up Christmas trees in their foyers to generate donations from their members and guests and are also encouraging suppliers to donate stock for Christmas Day.

Marlene Shipley, CEO from St Mary’s Band Club said, “They do an amazing job. There’s a real need in the community for organisations like Ratha’s Place and we are proud to support their efforts.” She said the club was aiming to raise at least $5,000 in donations through their members and suppliers.

If your club, pub or company would like to help and experience the real meaning of Christmas, contact .

Main image: Two of the Ratha’s Place staff members – Robbie and Brenton- at St Marys Band Club with the Christmas Tree they have put up to gather donations.