6 Heart-Warming Ways To Make A Difference This Christmas In Brisbane
Making spirits bright
By Teagan Witherow | 18th December 2023Christmas truly is the most wonderful time of the year – the streets are filled with eager shoppers, we get to spend quality time with our loved ones, and there’s that special Christmas joy in the air. But beyond all the glitz and glamour of the season, it’s also a perfect opportunity to give back to those in need.
There are so many ways to spread the holiday cheer. It could be as simple as picking up Christmas cards from your favourite charity or donating a can of food to a local appeal. You can also give the greatest gift of all – your time – and volunteer for a worthy cause. As a wise source once said (yes, we’re talking about the Grinch), “Maybe Christmas doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas perhaps means a little bit more.”
Without further ado, here’s how you can get involved in the days leading up to Christmas and on the big day itself…
Plant a coral to restore the reef
Thanks to the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, you can help plant coral, rejuvenate degraded reefs, and bring back wildlife to critical habitats by making a small donation. A donation of $30 will help grow corals, $60 will go towards research into heat-tolerant corals, and a sum of $120 will help restore critical reef habitats for threatened species. For more information and to submit a donation click here.
Attend a ‘Cooking for a Cause’ class
OzHarvest’s Cooking for a Cause is a hands-on cooking class open to corporate groups and led by talented chefs. All the food prepared gets delivered by the OzHarvest vans to people in need across Brisbane. It’s a great opportunity to get the team together for a fun cooking workshop while giving back to your community. Be sure to book your spot here.
Help serve meals on the big day
Every year, the Salvation Army hosts Christmas lunches across the country. The best part? It’s completely free for those who attend! The meals are perfect for people who feel lonely or simply lack a Christmas crew. Sound like something you’d like to be a part of? Get in touch with your local Salvos and see if they could use an extra elf to help serve meals.
Buy a donation from GIVIT
You may be wondering how one buys a donation. Well, it’s possible at GIVIT. Simply head to their websitre, select what donation you’d like to fund, and read about the family or person who will be receiving it. You can choose from fuel vouchers, toys, televisions, Christmas trees, bedding, and more! There are currently over 16,000 items needed, so there’s plenty to choose from. Fund an item here.
Donate to Foodbank
Did you know on any given day in Australia, more than half a million households are struggling to put food on the table? The good news is there are charities out there working to put a stop to this, like Foodbank, which is the largest hunger relief charity in Australia. Despite their best efforts, they still need 50 per cent more food to provide enough for all the people seeking assistance. So, to try and bridge this gap, why not donate? Donate and learn more here.
Enter the Starlight Charity Raffle
Starlight Children’s Foundation is best known for their Starlight Wish program, where they grant over half a million wishes to sick kids each year. They have partnered with Play For Purpose, the charity lottery, to give you the chance to win great prizes and help raise vital money for this program. They call it “the happiest win-win!” and we couldn’t agree more. Tickets are just $10 and you could win anything from JB Hi-Fi vouchers and Visa gift cards to an Audi Q5 car and a $250,000 prize pack. Buy your ticket here.
