MAITLAND Neighbourhood Centre has launched its annual Christmas appeal, and is asking people to dig deep this year.
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Instead of food goods, the Rutherford-based community centre is asking people to give monetary donations for them to make up their Christmas hampers.
Manager Sarah Adams said the centre was expecting a spike in people acessing the service during the Christmas period.
"We are working with local services and schools. I think we will end up with about 250 to 280 families that we will be assisting and about 1000 people," she said.
"We have noticed people accessing our services since the reduction of JobKeeper and JobSeeker.
"So this year, we are asking people to make monetary donations. We thought it was safer for us to do the purchasing.
"It also means people can still contribute but in their means to do so."
The hampers will include a number of food items to ensure people have full bellies on the days leading up to and after Christmas - and of course on the big day.
Member for Maitland Jenny Aitchison has signed on once again, and is collecting toys for the community centre at her Central Maitland office.
People can drop gifts and gift cards in at Jenny Aitchison's office, which is located at 2/12 Elgin Street, and open between 9am and 5pm from Monday to Friday.
All donations must be received by close of business on Friday, December 11.
To donate or for more information, people can call the community centre on 4932 0950.
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