Name: Charities offer Christmas lunch and support for the community
Uploaded: 2025-12-25T06:39:02.762Z
Duration: 2 min 26 s
Description: While many Australians woke to full homes and plates this Christmas, others faced the day alone. Thankfully, across the country, volunteers and charities are turning compassion into action, offering food, friendship, and a place to belong.

While many Australians woke to full homes and plates this Christmas, others faced the day alone. Thankfully, across the country, volunteers and charities are turning compassion into action, offering food, friendship, and a place to belong.

Melbourne

Charities across Australia are opening their doors to support those facing hardship during Christmas, providing meals, hampers, and a sense of community. Volunteers are giving their time so that vulnerable individuals can experience companionship and dignity on the holiday.

The Bill Cruz Foundation, which has been serving the community for 40 years, received a $10 million investment from the Prime Minister to support its work in New South Wales. In Sydney, Wayside Chapel is hosting one of the largest Christmas lunches, welcoming over 800 people experiencing homelessness or isolation to share food and connection.

Charities offer Christmas lunch and support for the community

Christmas, a time of giving, a time of sharing and a time of coming together. No one should be alone at Christmas. And across Australia that message is being lived out as charities open not just their doors but their hearts to those doing it tough. From Melbourne to Perth and everywhere in between, thousands will experience some Christmas cheer, made possible by the generosity of volunteers giving up their day so others don't have to spend it alone. Get to be together on a day when they would otherwise be on their own and really lonely. We're hoping that we'll have maybe up to 200 people, members of our community who are vulnerable, who are able to come in here and share the Christmas spirit. Because today it's not just about a hot meal. It's about dignity, belonging and human connection. For 40 years, Reverend Bill Cruz and his foundation have been giving everyone a place at the table, providing hampers, meals and gifts and reminding people they matter. It tells people no matter how low they are in the pecking order of life, they matter. The Prime Minister's stopping by to announce a $10 million investment into the foundation's work, supporting services right across New South Wales. It's important to remember what brings us together as a nation and it is that spirit of Australians who always look after each other. Meanwhile at Sydney's King's Cross, Wayside Chapel hosts one of the largest Christmas day lunches, welcoming those experiencing homelessness or isolation. Christmas is going to be quite triggering for people as well, if people have had complex relationships with their family or tough stuff's going on at home, it can be quite triggering so to try and make it positive and connected is a really beautiful thing. Over the course of today, over 800 people will gather here, share stories, dance and enjoy a traditional three-course Christmas lunch. This is my family, I don't have family here, so this is my family and I love it. It just fills my heart with joy to be here. Today is a reminder that kindness still connects us and that no one has to be alone. Ho ho ho, Merry Christmas from Wayside. Elliot Hastie, 10 News.

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