Christmas at Samaritans

Christmas is a wonderfully busy time at Samaritans. From our Christmas Day community lunches to our Christmas Assistance Centre, there's plenty of ways to receive help as well as volunteer or get involved.

Newcastle’s largest Christmas celebration has been annually hosted by Samaritans for the past 20 years. We aim to offer individuals and families experiencing homelessness, disadvantage or loneliness, much needed compassion on Christmas Day.

2021 has been a year like no other. With the impacts of lockdowns still being felt, we know there are people in our community who may be unable to celebrate Christmas this year, and we are here to help.

To keep our volunteers and community safe, this year our Christmas lunches will be a little different. We are offering families a festive picnic lunch on Christmas Day. Locals will enjoy lunch with their loved ones on their very own picnic rug, with gifts and games.

Thank you to our generous sponsors in Newcastle and in Singleton for making it all happen!

Samaritans Christmas Assistance Centre

Samaritans operates a Christmas Assistance Centre offering families who are unable to afford Christmas gifts for their children, the opportunity to register for assistance.

The Assistance Centre offers items for babies, children and their parents/carers.

All the toys and items have been generously donated by local businesses, parishes and community members.

If you wish to donate gifts to our Christmas Assistance centre, donations are accepted at our Broadmeadow ER Centre.

Support Samaritans Christmas Lunches

If you want to support Samaritans Christmas Lunches, please call us on (02) 4960 7100 or email mail@samaritans.org.au

Over the Christmas period not only do we provide a number of activities, the demand on our existing support services increases.

For many local families, Christmas can bring additional hardships. Often people struggle as their casual or part-time jobs are cut over the Christmas break, so they don’t have income. Sometimes bill cycles fall over Christmas and on top of that parents are preparing for back to school expenses.

Samaritans Christmas Appeal aims to ensure families in need do not feel alone this Christmas. Samaritans is calling on the local community to help and support our goal. Just $25 can make a difference.