On The Up: Christmas spirit shines with free meals, hampers and donations

The Salvation Army Whangārei is gearing up to donate 180 Christmas hampers full of goodies, community ministries food security team leader Carl Worthington and community ministries team manager Teneille Johnson say. Photo / Denise Piper

The Christmas spirit is alive and well in Whangārei, with free meals and Christmas hampers on offer for those lonely or in need.

Christmas Day events include a free barbecue breakfast, a dinner run by Salvation Army and a lunch in Dargaville, while 180 whānau will also get Christmas hampers for their own celebrations.

The Salvation Army Whangārei will donate the hampers next week to families it works with, plus its volunteers, said community ministries manager Teneille Johnson.

The hampers will include everything for a Christmas meal, including roast chicken, pavlova and all the trimmings, she said.

Parents will also get a chance to pick out Christmas gifts for their children, from community donations through the likes of the Kmart Wishing Tree appeal and wooden toys made by Whangārei Men’s Shed.

This year, the Salvation Army noticed more people hitting the poverty line and coming to its social supermarket for help, Johnson said.

This included people working, and some who even own their own home but are struggling to make ends meet through the cost of living crisis – especially if sudden bills hit, she said.

This year’s hampers were sponsored by local businesses, who were encouraged to write a message of support to the whānau, said Johnson, a former Christmas hamper benefactor.

“We’ve had an amazing response from the community,” she said.

“I was a child that got a parcel 30-plus years ago. It changes the protectory pathway if you give whānau the opportunity.”

The Salvation Army will set up a Christmas grotto with donated items, so parents can choose presents for their kids.

On top of the hampers, The Salvation Army will host a free Christmas Day dinner for those who have nothing to do or are lonely and need support.

While free, the event is ticketed to keep numbers manageable, and all 100 tickets have been allocated, Johnson said.

The three-course meal is being run by a church volunteer and likely to benefit different people to those who received hampers, she said.

Another Christmas Day event will be a barbecue breakfast, running for the third time.

Whangārei’s Free Community Christmas Breakfast at Laurie Hall Park is expected to attract about 200 people, said one organiser Gary Younger.

The Christmas Day breakfast in Laurie Hall Park is all about giving Christmas cheer, say two organisers, Mike Paora (left) and Gary Younger.

The event started in 2023 by a group of friends who informally call themselves the Dead Parents Society, because each of them had lost at least one of their parents but wanted to show they were good children.

The barbecue from 8am not only involves a good feed, it also provides comfort and friendship for those who are alone on Christmas Day, Younger said.

People can simply turn up on the day and it is a great atmosphere, with volunteers and guests mingling, he said.

“We don’t need to remind people that people are doing it tough ... It’s for anybody who wants a hearty breakfast and good company.”

Volunteers and donations are always welcome, especially people able to bake some desserts, Younger said.

Anyone interested in helping can contact Younger through the Facebook page: Whangārei’s Free Community Christmas Breakfast.

Meanwhile, Te Korowai o Ihu Karaiti Ministries will run a Christmas lunch in Whangārei on December 23 and an event in Dargaville on Christmas Day.

Petrina Pitman says the Christmas meals run by Te Korowai o Ihu Karaiti Ministries are all about helping the less fortunate. Photo / Michael Cunningham

Organiser Petrina Pitman said the Whangārei event is about providing for the less fortunate, including the rough sleepers she helps feed each week.

Held at Hope Whangārei, 1 Hunt St, from 12.30pm, it will include a meal with all the trimmings and entertainment, she said.

The event is still in need of more donations and food, with Pitman encouraging people to call her on 021 136 5253.

Te Korowai o Ihu Karaiti Ministries will also run its usual free community Christmas Day event in Dargaville.

Hundreds of people attend the lunch each year at Nazerene Hall, 4 Grey St, State Highway 12, Dargaville.

Denise Piper is a news reporter for the Northern Advocate, focusing on health and business. She has more than 20 years in journalism and is passionate about covering stories that make a difference.