Church rallies to aid blaze family

By Callan Date
THE Christmas spirit is alive and well for an Endeavour Hills family who lost a lifetime of belongings in a house fire.
Niki Richardson and her five children are still reeling from the devastation caused by the fire that ripped through their uninsured property a fortnight ago.
However, their outlook has been lifted by an invitation to a free pre-Christmas dinner for single parents and their families.
Winepress Church in Berwick will stage the event and the group extended an invitation to the Richardson family after reading about their plight in last week’s News.
Ms Richardson was thrilled when she heard about the offer and said it would lift the spirits of her children and the rest of the family.
“The kids will absolutely love it. We are all going along and we are so thankful that someone is thinking of us,” she said.
The family will be treated to a three-course meal, entertainment, presents and, most importantly, a smile or two as they join about another 100 families at the dinner.
Event organiser Michelle Sanders said the invitation list was at capacity but they were able to find room for the Richardsons.
“Some of the stories from the families that attend are just devastating. For some it is the only Christmas dinner and present they will get,” Ms Sanders said.
She said the guests are made to feel very special throughout the night with all the tables individually set and lots of activities for the children.
“We really make a night of it. We have about 150 volunteers working on the night and we serve up a lovely meal.
“There is a big carnival for the kids. We have a heap of activities and then half way through the night a short pantomime play with clowns is put on,” she said.
Winepress is an Assembly of God church in Berwick that held its first meetings in the early ‘90s and its pre-Christmas dinner is one of the biggest events on the church calendar.
Ms Sanders said there were traditionally many highlights throughout the night with the arrival of Santa being one of the biggest.
“We have organised about 300 presents for the children and each family takes a home a big food hamper,” she said.