The Shack launches Trees of Hope appeal
The Shack’s Dale, Imogene and Donna Dowler, backed by supporters, launch the Trees of Hope Appeal. Just call in to participating stores, grab a hamper bag and fill it according to the list provided.
by Janine Hill
The Shack’s annual Trees of Hope Christmas hamper appeal was officially launched on November 2 but, behind the scenes, the team had already been hard at work for weeks.
Like the elves in Santa’s workshop, the tireless organisers were busy assembling bags and crates at TOH headquarters.
Imogene Dowler, the face of Trees of Hope, said the plan was to build on the approximately 400 Christmas hampers last year.
“It’s amazing how many donations we got last year but we want to do even more this year,” she said. “We know there’s a lot of people in need, especially in the difficult climate at the moment, and we want to be able to do more if we can.”
The Trees of Hope appeal is launched by The Shack community centre at Nambour on 2 November every year and runs until 15 December to make up hampers for people who are homeless or marginalised.
Imogene said this year’s appeal involved every Mitre 10 store from Kingaroy through to North Lakes and would support people not only on the Sunshine Coast but in the Mary Valley, including Kandanga and Amamoor.
Donors could call into any of the stores and collect bags with shopping lists for Christmas hampers to suit either singles, couples or families.
“The items we ask for are non-perishable and we make up the lists so they can go together. For example, Spam can go with vegies or potato and that’s a meal, and then we add a few Christmas goodies,” Imogene said.
She said hamper donations could be left at Hot 91 and The Barn at Flaxton, or at the old Nambour Mitre 10 building at 31 Reilly Road on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10am until 2pm. The Trees of Hope appeal is supported by several other organisations.
Imogene said the Sunshine Coast Grammar School donated schoolbags every year to help families manage post-Christmas back-to-school expenses.
Baringa State School community donated about 1000kg of food for the hampers last year, contributing to a total of 9000kg of hamper donations.
Imogene said assembling the hampers was a lot of work but the team had a good system and it was very rewarding.
“We love this time of year. It’s always very busy but it’s the most fun,” she said.
