Lifeline South Coast to host first Wollongong Christmas Day lunch for those in need

Lifeline South Coast is hosting its first Christmas Community Lunch, offering social connection and a warm meal on Christmas Day for those in need.

Hosted at the Uniting Church in Crown Street, Wollongong, the free event aims to support people facing loneliness or hardship during what can be a challenging time of year for some.

However, Lifeline South Coast CEO Renee Green said to make it possible, it was urgently seeking those able to “donate a plate” as the aim was to raise $20,000 by 25 December.

“Across social media, TV and movies, holidays are depicted really in one way, which is that time of joy and celebration and togetherness, but that’s just not the reality for a lot of people,” Renee said.

She said they wanted to create a space where anyone in the community could come, enjoy a meal, and find some much-needed social connection.

“If people are wanting some social connection, or just wanting to come and enjoy a lovely meal without an expense, we’d be happy to have them,” she said.

“There’s been some other organisations that have run it in the past, but we’re stepping in this year to run it, and we’re super excited.

“We are requesting that people register so we have an idea of how many people are coming, but we’re not going to turn people away on the day if they haven’t registered, because people, for a range of reasons, might not be able to do that.”

Renee said the Christmas Day lunch was linked to the new Community Kitchen program, after the existing Wesley Meals Program joined Lifeline South Coast earlier this year.

She said the program provided free meals every weekday, with coffee and light breakfast available for takeaway in the morning, and the dining room open from 11 o’clock for morning tea followed by lunch.

It had become a safe and non-judgmental space for people seeking food relief and connection.

Dependent on donations, it’s also able to provide bread, toiletries, fresh fruit and vegetables, and prepared takeaway meals.

“As well as a high-quality, nutritious meal, the community kitchen provides a place for social connection and caring conversations,” Renee said.

“So we’ve got some of our volunteers from that program, together with some people who are just volunteering with us on Christmas Day, to do the lunch.”

She said having filled its volunteer roster for the event, the organisation was now seeking financial donations and food contributions to make what will be the kitchen’s first major event a success.

In the meantime, she said Lifeline’s phone lines were open 24/7, including Christmas Day, with the service often receiving an increase in calls during the Christmas holiday period.

“The holiday period can be a really challenging time for a lot of people, whether that’s feeling lonely, anxious, stressed, sad or something else completely different,” Renee said.

“We do know that holidays can be challenging, and I think that’s compounded by the fact that often a lot of services are closed or less available during that period as well.

“We do typically see some peaks in calls in the lead-up to Christmas and then throughout the holiday period.

“So we’re really happy to take those calls from people who are struggling for whatever reason around the holiday period, and we’d encourage them to reach out and reach out early.”

Renee said common themes were financial stress, grief and loss, estranged relationships and loneliness.

“We have been seeing a general increase in financial stress throughout the community, so we think that will probably be further exacerbated throughout the holiday period,” she said.

For those experiencing mental health challenges at Christmas, Renee said it was about remembering to prioritise self-care.

“A lot of people recommend perhaps a digital detox over that period, so staying away from social media if that’s something that’s not having a positive impact on you,” she said.

“Often, the change in routine around holidays can be a good time to explore some new interests or hobbies.

“If you’re concerned about somebody else, it’s about reaching out to them, not waiting for them to come to you, and maybe including them in plans, asking them to go for a walk, or whatever that may be that you think would be helpful.”

Renee said when identifying signs in those you know well or care about, it could be different for each person, but it was advisable to look for changes in behaviour, such as withdrawing from social activities or using alcohol or other drugs to excess.

“It’s really just about noticing those changes and listening to your gut a little bit,” she said.

“If you’re worried or concerned, just making the effort to reach out and remembering it’s not about having all the answers or solving the problems for people, it’s about letting them know you are there to listen and to support.”

Register to attend the event on 25 December at the Uniting Church in Crown Street, Wollongong, or contribute to Donate A Plate for the event.

If you are struggling, or someone you know is, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.