Hundreds of volunteers throughout the Logan region will this week march on foot, in cars and trucks to make the lives of disadvantaged people better for Christmas.
Toy runs, food and hamper deliveries, and other charitable causes will stretch into Christmas Day and beyond.
Shopping centres have been collecting – Logan Central Plaza for OzHarvest, Rochedale Shopping Village for Fishers of Men just two examples.
Be An Elf will distribute about 5000 sacks of toys to children, carrying in total about 75,000 items. Emergency services workers will do their annual toy run (see page 5). The Salvation Army and multiple other charities will be ensuring the disadvantaged and homeless have food and necessities on Christmas Day.
It is a mammoth community effort that charity leaders say is indicative of the Logan community year-round.
Be An Elf’s June Hintz said their planning starts in July, identifying 5000 children in need, with the help of schools, welfare organisations, churches and community groups.
A typical day this week will start at 2.30am, as volunteers guide more than 300 drivers to homes of children in need.
The organisation has about 25 regular volunteers who help throughout the year, but during critical times the broader community stands up.
Gifts are valued at more than $130,000, a remarkable effort off the back of $2000 in grants.
“We see ourselves as the elf army, and this is all out of Beenleigh,” Ms Hintz said. “It’s something we should be very proud of as a community.”
Ms Hintz said she’s seen more people in need this year.
“I’ve seen one lady who’s taken children off the streets into her own home. I’ve been doing this for 14 years and this is a particularly bad year,” she said.
“I do want to stress however that when people are out shopping for gifts to fill their sacks, they’re doing it in local stores – they’re not doing it online. What we’re doing here is good for the children, and it’s great for the local economy.”
