THERE isn’t much that can soothe the wounds inflicted by COVID-19.
Border closures have sliced through families, widespread job losses have dragged people below the poverty line and small businesses have suffered from closing their doors.
But Mildura couple Travis Manning and Louisa Prevedello, with help from St Vincent de Paul’s drought relief initiative and Millewa Landcare Victoria, are hoping to provide a salve for those hardest hit.
The pair have launched a fundraiser that will pour cash into small businesses and farmers across Sunraysia, while bringing families together for the festive season.
With a goal of $10,000, they hope to create 100 hampers full to the brim with everything needed for a family Christmas meal, from fresh fruit and vegetables, bread, cakes and biscuits, to meat vouchers, pasta and sauce.
Ms Prevedello said she was spurred into action, after seeing the cafe where she landed her first hospitality job close.
“It’s been such a tough year and my husband and I were lucky enough to still have a job,” she said.
“A lot of small businesses had to close due to COVID-19 and I worked for one which has been unable to open up again.
“These small businesses are ones that employ kids out of school and give them apprenticeships, so I thought: How I could help?
“That’s how I came up with the idea of raising money to buy food from these stores and then give it to people who need it at Christmas time.”
Through tears, Ms Prevedello said she hoped the hampers would help families reconnect after a tumultuous year.
“This year has pointed out how important family is and I suppose I’m extremely lucky because a big meal is the biggest thing for my family at Christmas time,” she said.
“It’s a great way of bringing people together, so I hope we can do that for other people, because I would really hate the idea that people couldn’t have family over because they couldn’t afford to.
“And I think that when you’re doing it tough, it’s important you are able to connect and talk with family and a lot of people find that easier when they’re sitting down for a meal.”
She said businesses had been incredibly generous, given the circumstances.
“They’ve been absolutely amazing, even the ones that are struggling said they would discount products, but that isn’t what we’re trying to do; we just want to make sure they’ll be alright next year,” she said.
As of Monday, $2040 had been raised by 29 donors.
Hampers will be assembled on December 22, before being distributed across the Millewa by Millewa Landcare Victoria facilitator Annette Lambert.
“I understand things are tough at the moment, so the fact that people still want to donate is amazing,” Ms Prevedello said.
To donate, see bit.ly/SunraysiaChristmasTable. Collection tins are also at businesses listed in the GoFundMe description.
