Carevan Blacktown Christmas Celebration 2021

It is community, family and friends and care for those who need a helping hand, company and a little support at a time when we celebrate these things most and best. For many though, this is time of sadness, financial strain and loneliness, so it is with great happiness that we were able to provide an evening of “a little bit more” and then some.. on Tuesday 21st December, this week past.

2021 has been a wild and whacky ride of hard work, service and support from all quarters of our amazing and generous community. Support unfazed and unstopped by COVID and the difficulties that this has presented to so many, over the year, but culminating in a wonderful evening’s celebration of community and Christmas cheer in the grounds of Lalor Park Community Hall.

Thank you to all who have been involved, from the donation of a hamper in the months before the event to the offer of help on the day, from bags of groceries, clothing or toys towards the Mayoress gift appeal, to staff working in organisations who answer phones, put things together and pack endlessly week after week through the year, but ramp up this work as Christmas approaches.

Thanks to the lovely individuals who donated gifts, food and other items, we thank you for your generous hearts and kind contributions, every thought and piece of effort resonating in the evening’s success.

Thanks to community groups and businesses who donated financial support towards Christmas gifts, food and a place to meet, the extra mile of customer service to support our charity or a discount to help out.

Thank you to the Gods of air conditioning and the privilege that it was to be able to be inside the cool hall on a hot day of heavy graft…

To the official bodies like the council and the staff, for their support in so many ways, to the unofficial help – like shop owner Joe, who came across from the Lalor Park shops to help carry unending boxes into the hall and help with set up…earning himself a fluoro green trophy Carevan T-shirt

Thanks to the neighbourhood gals, Tash and Christina, who sang for us, like the angels they are and who gave so freely of their time and filled the hall and our Christmas service with lovely, live music.

Thanks to all the people behind the scenes and those front and centre, each cog in the machine as important as the other and we can’t do it without you all

Tremendous thanks to….

the green team for the event; Andrew, Bruce, Tracey, Kym, Kimbalee, Jade, Taz, Julie, Nicole, Leah, Daniel, Alison and Nathan, Rishi, Elsebeth, James, Natalie and Hayley

Thanks to the honorary Carevan family;

Glenda, Louise and Terry and Robyn and Gary

2nd Kings Langley Scouts; Ellen, Joshua, Wade, James and Melody

Katie McMaster and wonder kids Brie and Taylor for the elves’ hamper and presents ‘working bee’ in preparation for the day.

And Elsebeth for being everywhere we need someone … every time!

Santa’s helpers; Wade, James, Melody and Annabel (Linh’s daughter) and Santa himself!!

Linh, Carevan’s very own lovely hairdresser.

Lizzie, queen of veg and lashings of generosity

Rotaract’s Anthony and Perignon

Sunil and Essai.

Huge thanks to the businesses and community groups that helped us get this act together for the day;

Sydney Wide Party hire for tables and chairs and another year of lovely customer service and spot on timing and help!

The Cheesecake Shop Seven Hills and Gaby (and his friend) for delivering beautiful fruity Pavs and cheesecakey deliciousness right to our door!!

Good360, Foodbank, OzHarvest, St Vincent de Paul, Norwest Christian College and students and Share the Dignity for boxes and boxes of donated goods to rival Mary Poppin’s bottomless bag !

And … National Storage Glendenning for un-ending patience and outstanding customer service in supporting our expanded need for storage to accommodate the enormous generosity we have been shown at this wonderful time of the year

And yet more community angels:

Melissa Matheson

Anne Hopkins

Jeni Simmons

Janelle lye

Joan

Glaiza ( dearest Lips)

Lucas for driving the extra truck, laden with extra gifts hampers

Bill Corless for the use of the Warehouse and affording us generous storage space, forklift and pallet access and use!

And finally a huge thank you to Mayor Tony Bleasdale and Deputy Mayor Julie Griffiths for their ongoing support of Carevan and our work and for taking time out of busy schedules to come along, share a meal and hand out the Foodbank hampers (Foodbank hampers generously funded by the council this year as last) to the happy crowd, who left laden with hampers, toys, gift packs and much, much more .. and most importantly we hope, a sense of community and care that is so evident on days such as this

because Christmas absolutely does mean a little bit more ….

Thank you all