Support during the 2024/2025 holiday season

The Rev Bill Crews Foundation

Christmas is a big day for the foundation, and this year they will be supporting individuals and families by providing 7000 food hampers and offering 2000 meals on Christmas Day at their Ashfield and Liverpool sites. They will also be hosting Santa’s Cave, where children can meet Santa and receive toys. For more information, phone 8752 4600 or email info@billcrews.org.

Ashfield

180 Liverpool Road, Ashfield

Breakfast
9 am-9.45 am | Daily

Lunch
11.30 am-12.45 pm | Daily

Liverpool

Liverpool Loaves & Fishes Free Restaurant

Sydney Food Share

Sydney Food Share is providing Christmas hampers for those in need for collection at Natty’s Cafe in Stanmore. If you’d like to receive one, message the Sydney Food Share Facebook page for further details.

Vinnies

Vinnies provides advocacy, referrals and support in navigating the appropriate services to those in the community who require financial, food or material assistance.

Call: 13 18 12 (during business hours)
Email: vinnies@vinnies.org.au
Opening hours: 9.30 am–4 pm Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays)

Vinnies support centres are found across Sydney, the largest of which is the Redfern centre at:

For a full list of Vinnies support centres see the website: Vinnies Support Centres

Salvation Army

The Salvation Army provides support of various kinds, including food and gift support as well as financial assistance. Visit your local Salvos centre, call the Salvos Phone Assistance line on 8775 7988 or head to the website https://www.salvationarmy.org.au/christmas/need-help-this-christmas/ to view their range of services.

Beyond Blue

Beyond Blue offers 24/7 phone and online counselling support for everyone in Australia.

Phone 1300 22 46 36 or visit the website https://www.beyondblue.org.au/

PANDA

Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia, or PANDA, supports the mental health of parents and families during pregnancy and in their first year of parenthood.

During the 2024/2025 holiday season, the PANDA National Helpline 1300 726 306 will be open Monday – Friday 9 am–7.30 pm and Saturdays 9 am–4 pm, except on the following days:

Wednesday 25 December 2024 CLOSED

Thursday 26 December 2024 9 am–4 pm

Wednesday 1 January 2025 9 am–4 pm

For more information, head to https://www.panda.org.au/

If you are having thoughts of self-harm or suicide, you can call:

Lifeline 13 11 14 (available 24/7)

Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467 (available 24/7)

If you are at immediate risk of harm to yourself, you can call:

NSW Mental Health Line 1800 011 511 (Available 24/7)

000 and ask for an Ambulance or the Police

1800 RESPECT

Sadly Christmas is a time of heighted domestic violence.

1800RESPECT is the national domestic, family and sexual violence counselling, information and support service. 1800RESPECT is available for free, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to support people.

Phone 1800 737 732 to speak to someone about your circumstances. You can also use the text service 0458 737 732 or chat to someone online.

For more information, visit https://1800respect.org.au/

If you are in immediate danger, please phone 000.

Photo credit: Markus Spiske, Unsplash

About Author

Ginny Grant

As a book editor, writer and mother of two young children, I divide my time between grappling with words and kids. Both can be troublesome and delightful. I am also the author of Australia’s Greatest Landmarks and Locations (Random House Australia, 2014), and firmly believe Sydney’s Inner West is one of Australia’s – no, the world’s – truly great places to live.

See author's posts

Related posts:

17 Generous Ways to Volunteer this Christmas The Best Christmas Markets in Sydney 2024 Best Christmas Books for Kids Christmas Carols Around Sydney 2024 Halloween Costume Hunting in the Inner West Christmas in July