CCH says thank you as Cobram community gives big this Christmas

By Gabriel Garcia

Dec 18, 2023

Christmas cheer: Cherene Stokes, Margaret Watson and Cobram Community House Christmas appeal co-ordinator Paula Hansen with gifts from the 2023 Christmas Gift Appeal, run by CCH. Photo by Contributed

Cobram Community House chief executive Christine Osborne has said a big thank you in the wake of a massive response to the 2023 CCH Christmas Appeals.

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This year, CCH ran two appeals: the traditional Christmas gift appeal and the inaugural Christmas cheer packs.

The cheer packs comprise food packages full of Christmas treats and, along with the gifts, will be distributed to struggling families in the region to help bring some Christmas cheer.

Ms Osborne said more than 170 children would be given gifts thanks to the community’s generosity.

“We were overwhelmed by the generosity of the people in our local community,” she said.

“We are extremely grateful for the wonderful gifts donated for those who needed support this Christmas.”

According to Ms Osborne, CCH was assisted by many businesses and organisations, who either donated or acted as collection points.

Organisations included Cobram Lions, 2 State Driving School, Doyles Gourmet Meats, Bluebird Kindergarten, Katamatite Pre-School, Boomerang Bags, Moira Shire Council, Woolworths Cobram, Bendigo Bank, Barooga Aquatic and Recreation Centre and Haven Legal.

Ms Osborne recently spoke to one gift recipient and said the effort made by the community had touched the recipient deeply.

“A recipient of the gifts relayed to me how grateful and life changing the gift appeal was to her and her children and she wanted to thank everyone involved,” Ms Osborne said.

Ms Osborne said that without the Cobram community, none of the appeals would have been successful, and she said that the amount of items donated demonstrated the generosity of the local community.

“I would like to express my heartfelt and sincere appreciation to the generous people in our community who have contributed to our Christmas appeal,” she said.

“The response we have received shows that we live in an amazing community and are blessed to have to have so many kind and generous people willing to help others.”