LIONS Club of Sale is once again preparing for its annual Christmas Hamper project.
As with previous years, the initiative has been bolstered by a financial contribution worth $16,250 from Esso Australia, a joint operator of the Longford gas plant.
“We’ve been a member of this community for well over 50 years, and for us, we feel very much part of the community, and (enjoy) being part of the community, where we can, to give back (to),” Longford plant manager Clinton Gentle said.
“With what the Lions Club do, I feel really privileged to be part of helping them support people in need.”
Esso has been involved with the project since 1974, when local Lions Club member Ken Schokman approached the two companies operating at the Longford plant – Esso and BHP – for financial assistance.
Their recent donation has already been utilised to buy 250 Coles supermarket vouchers worth $50 each.
Council chairperson for Lions Australia, Steve Boyce, welcomed Esso’s ongoing contribution to the cause.
“The support that we get from Esso is very important, because we know that people are very hard-up at Christmas time,” Mr Boyce said.
“As Lions, we want to give them the best Christmas we can – we want to make sure they enjoy it, and have a nice meal as a family.
“The support that Esso’s given to us over the past 49 years for this project has enabled us to go out and deliver, this year, 250 of these hampers, so 250 families are going to have a lovely Christmas together through this.
“With this (contribution), it enables us to achieve that, and to connect with these people and make their Christmas a little bit better.”
The program’s longevity, according to Mr Boyce, would not be possible without the continued support of the Gippsland Basin Joint Venture companies.
This year marks the 49th consecutive year that the Lions Club’s Christmas Hamper project has been run.
Where in the past families would receive a bag of food, since 2013 hampers consist of a supermarket voucher and a Christmas pudding.
More than 12,000 hampers have been delivered to families since the project’s inception, with the assistance of Lions Clubs in Maffra, Heyfield, Newry, Briagolong, Stratford, Rosedale, Loch Sport and Toongabbie.
The Lions Club of Sale expressed its thanks to UnitingCare Gippsland, St Vincent de Paul Society and The Salvation Army for their continued support of the program.
The hampers will be distributed by Lions Club members and delivered to eligible families on December 17.
