ARARAT’S Christmas elves have issued a last-minute plea to help people struggling this festive season.
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The Ararat Emergency Relief Committee is co-ordinating multiple appeals across the town, with drop-off points at Ararat Target, Kings Cars and several churches.
But the committee’s co-ordinator Marilyn Brady said donations had been unusually slow.
She said she remained hopeful donations would increase before collection day on Thursday.
“Sometimes it starts off really slow and then bang, at the last minute you get what you need,” she said.
“I think it’s just slow because people tend to think they have far more time than they do.
“We have to have all our things collected early, because we don’t have volunteers work on Christmas Eve and we have to do it this week.
“We’ve packed all the hampers and the toys will be packed on Thursday, the drivers will take them out on Friday and it’s all done and dusted.”
Kings Cars general manager Michael Smith said donations of toys were still a high priority.
“It’s starting to take off, but we just noticed that the gifting was a bit slow to get going,” he said.
Mr Smith said the concept was simple.
“(It is) for residents and businesses to step back from the Christmas rush and spare a little for those in need this festive season,” he said.
Volunteers will collect donations for all appeals until the end of Thursday.
Mr Smith said any donations made at Kings Cars after that point would go towards future appeals.
“We do collect for the following year anyway, so we’ll take presents right up until Saturday,” he said.
UnitingCare volunteer Yvonne Driden said donations at Target were also slow going this year.
“Last year we had a lot more donations,” she said.
“I think Christmas has just crept up on everyone.
“We’re still hoping that people haven’t forgotten us and that they will come in as soon as possible.”
Donations can be dropped off at Ararat Target (44 High Street), Kings Cars (182 High Street), Ararat Church of Christ (86 High St), St Vincent de Paul (264 Barkly St), Holy Trinity Anglican Church (32 View Point Street), Uniting Church (55 Banfield St) or the Ararat Salvation Army (Lot 1, High St).
