Tyson and Haley from Construction Control with a ute-load of toys. Photo: Genevieve Jacobs.
It’s easy to convince yourself the world is going to hell in a handcart.
The evidence is all around us: disruption, war, distress and violence. It all feels very uncertain, not a little frightening, and easy to turn into a catastrophe as we’re pummelled with relentless bad news.
So, how about some good news instead?
At Hands Across Canberra, we work with 350 local charities, helping them raise funds and support Canberrans who need help. These people may be struggling financially, escaping violence and confrontation, trying to find their feet in a new city or living with disability.
We help with ordinary human need in our own neighbourhood. Local people, local problems, local charities.
We know the festive season is hard if you’re surrounded by others who are merrily exchanging gifts, sharing meals and welcoming friends (especially if you’re on social media where everyone and everything looks perfect).
So this year, we decided to do a bit of quiet Christmas organisation. Some longtime HAC friends and partners asked if we could help with their giving trees. We made a few suggestions here and there. It was all pretty low key.
Readers, the response was astonishing!
Bootloads and uteloads of toys, food and gifts came flooding in. They all but overwhelmed the meeting room at Bendigo Bank in Deakin, where we share an office.
Vince Whiteside, Village Building Company CEO, Crackers the Cockatoo and Hands Across Canberra CEO Genevieve Jacobs. Photo: Village Building Company.
There was Lego and cricket bats, dolls and frisbees and balls and books and skateboards. There were Christmas cakes and biscuits, crackers and puddings, and long-lasting foods of all kinds to celebrate the season.
Jess from Bendigo’s Community Bank Canberra branch at Curtin turned up with a station wagon stuffed to the gills. She’d rounded up her workmates and her kids’ preschool to donate.
“I told my own boys I’d match their funding if they bought a gift because Christmas is not all about getting”, she told me (and then we both got a bit teary).
Crackers the Cockatoo from Village Building Company had loads of food for us, and the folks from Construction Control (thanks Tyson and Haley for delivering a whole builders’ truckload of presents), Master Builders ACT, RSM Canberra, Hindmarsh Construction, IKEA, the Commonwealth Club and so many others gave spectacularly.
We were flat out for a week delivering good cheer to Marymead and Karinya House, to Helping ACT, to Toora Women and Doris and Beryl Women’s refuges, PCYC, Uniting Church Kippax, Tuckerbox and other places where people were facing a hard time.
All over the city, similar stories played out. In the midst of 24/7 commercial blasting, of relentless social media and pressure from all sides, you stopped to think of others. You worked to make it happen, and you really delivered.
Thanks to you, kids who’ve had a rough year have Christmas presents under their trees. People who struggle to feed themselves will have a celebratory meal. Mums and dads fighting to make ends meet will breathe a little easier knowing that this year will be a celebration for their families, too.
Canberra, you are amazing. Thank you.
Genevieve Jacobs is the CEO of Hands Across Canberra.
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