Give the gift of joy through Hutt St Centre this festive season

With the holiday season upon us, Hutt St Centre is asking the community to dig deep and donate items for its Christmas Day celebrations, to ensure it can cater for the growing number of people likely to come in for a hearty hot meal and some festive cheer.

Hutt St Centre Chief Executive Chris Burns said the organisation was calling on the community to help make Christmas Day special for everyone who walks through their doors. From turkey and custard to coffee and Christmas serviettes, every donation helps to bring festive cheer to those in our community who need it most.

“This year we’ve faced growing numbers of people visiting our Wellbeing Centre and coming in for meals and other support services and sadly, with the cost-of-living and housing crises, we are expecting a record-breaking demand this Christmas,” Mr Burns said.

“Christmas can be a particularly painful time for people experiencing homelessness, amplifying feelings of isolation and loss. At Hutt St Centre, we work to turn that around. Our Wellbeing Centre transforms into a place of joy, filled with laughter, delicious meals, and the comfort of community.

“On Christmas Day, we do everything we can to ensure our clients feel not just supported but celebrated. Everyone will enjoy a festive lunch – complete with ham, turkey and trimmings – and every person receives a gift. A simple gesture made possible by the generous local community, to show they’re not forgotten.”

Hutt St Centre is also inviting people as part of their Christmas appeal to “sponsor a seat” at the Christmas lunch. Just $30 will provide someone with a Christmas meal and the chance to experience the warmth of the holiday season in a welcoming, judgment-free environment.

In the 2023-24 financial year Hutt St Centre welcomed its second consecutive record, with more than 2,000 clients visiting the Centre. What is more concerning is that more than 1,000 of them were new clients - a significant increase on the 2022-23 financial year, averaging more than 80 new clients each month. More women also accessed the centre than ever, increasing by 26 per cent.

There were 40,504 visits to the Wellbeing Centre in 2023-24, increasing by 15 per cent. The centre served 45,111 meals, a 16 per cent increase.

Mr Burns said the cost-of-living and housing crises would continue to hurt South Australians over the summer, which meant the number of people at-risk of or experiencing homelessness would continue to rise.

“There are so many pressures on families at this time of year, particularly when people feel like they have to spend significant amounts of money on gifts and on celebrations,” Mr Burns said.

“This is a time to think of others, remembering that life isn’t always easy for many people in our community. If there’s anything you can do to help – whether it be donating items on our wish list or sponsoring a seat through our Christmas appeal, your help would be much appreciated. It’s always important to remember that homelessness doesn’t discriminate, any of us could be homeless at Christmas.”

To sponsor a seat for someone in need through Hutt St Centre’s Christmas appeal, click here or visit https://www.huttstcentre.org.au/donate.

Hutt St Centre’s Christmas Wish List

• Bottled water

• Coffee, tea, sugar

• Cans of soft drink

• Fresh fruit

• Snacks for takeaway lunches such as small packets of potato chips and muesli bars

• Christmas serviettes (plain colours such as red or green are preferred)

• Turkey buffet/rolls

• Cranberry and mint sauce

• Plum puddings

• UHT custard

• Ham

• Christmas cookies/treats (store-bought and wrapped)

• Socks

• Underwear

• New t-shirts

• Sunglasses

• Sunscreen

• Insect repellent

• Antiseptic cream

For more information on other donatable non-perishable ideas for those sleeping rough over the Christmas period, click here.

Donations can be dropped off at Hutt St Centre, 258 Hutt St, from now and 20 December, between 8.30am and 4.30pm.