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 get involved during this special time of year.

Do you need support this Christmas? Click here.

Newcastle’s largest Christmas celebration has been annually hosted by Samaritans for the past 19 years. We aim to offer individuals and families experiencing homelessness, disadvantage or loneliness, much needed compassion on Christmas Day.

2020 has been a year like no other. Yet 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 an express lunch and gift pickup on Christmas Day.

In previous years to ensure we have enough toys and items in our Christmas Assistance Centre and Christmas lunches local businesses collect gifts for Samaritans.

Because of COVID-19 restrictions, our Giving Tree appeal cannot go ahead as normal. Usually workplaces and businesses set up Christmas Trees on their premises and collect gifts, toys, food and vouchers for Samaritans.

This year we hope you will be able to donate a gift online! Click here to donate to our Giving Tree Campaign.

If you have a gift that you have already purchased, we would gratefully accept it at Westfield Kotara concierge desk where you can leave a toy during the first two weeks in December.

ABC Newcastle is raising money to provide local families with Christmas gifts for their children. Click on the button below to contribute to this campaign.

Volunteering

Give your time and help to bring compassion to our community this Christmas.

Newcastle: If you would like to volunteer for our Newcastle event, select the link below.

Singleton: If you would like to volunteer for out Singleton event, select the link below.

Central Coast: Due to restrictions with COVID-19, we are unable to host a Christmas Day lunch at Wyong on the Central Coast this year. We will be hosting smaller, COVID-adapted event in Newcastle and Singleton. Volunteer numbers will be very limited due to local restrictions, however guests on the day can pick up a take away meal.

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

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 aged 12 and under. Gifts are on display so families can choose the gifts they would like to give.

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

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.