Debbie Vella with Brooke and Sarah, Rachael Cope with Tylah, Angela Martin and Kayla, Kerrie Richards and Max, Dianne Wilkinson and Luke and Samantha Rose with Jade and Jett from the Berwick Winepress church will host single parent families at their annual Christmas dinner. 39200Picture: Luke Plummer
By Kelly Yates
A BERWICK church is helping those who need it most by hosting single-parent families at its annual Christmas dinner.
The Berwick Winepress has been running the “Single Parent Dinner” for the past six years, with around 200 parents and more than 300 children turning up to last year’s event.
The church recognised there was a need for the service for single parent families in the City of Casey.
The Single Parent Dinner on Saturday 5 December has become one of the biggest programs on the church’s calendar, with more than 150 volunteers who cook, serve, entertain and clean up at the invite-only event.
According to Trudy Buchanan from the Berwick Winepress church, it costs more than $10,000 in donations to run and host the dinner.
“The families are served a three-course meal, which is fully catered for by the church and served by volunteers,” she said.
Children get the opportunity to enjoy a carnival atmosphere with hotdogs, fairy floss, rides and clowns at the event, with every family receiving a food hamper for the festive season, with the goods donated by the community, and each child scoring a Christmas gift.
Ms Buchanan said the Single Parent Dinner allowed Casey families to experience the joys of the Christmas season.
Co-ordinator Michelle Sanders believes the church has a role in helping meet the needs of those less fortunate in the community.
“If we can brighten or lighten lives at this time then that is what we would like to do.”
People wishing to donate can all Michelle Sanders or Trudy Buchanan on 9796 1006.
