Ross Vasta Christmas appeal for Stanthorpe

The Ross Vasta Christmas Appeal officially launched today and has partnered with national online charity GIVIT to support the drought and bushfire affected community of Stanthorpe and the Granite Belt.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP said the Christmas Appeal for Stanthorpe encouraged locals in Bonner to donate and purchase much needed items and services for Stanthorpe and surrounding residents.

“In a further effort to support the local community, we will ensure where possible, items for the Stanthorpe residents through this appeal will be purchased locally to support Darling Downs businesses,” Mr Vasta said.

“Now more than ever, the township needs to see money we raise, spent locally to keep small business and jobs ticking over.

Mr Vasta said he was driven to supporting Stanthorpe with a Christmas appeal after witnessing the hardship of families and farmers affected by the drought and recent bushfires.

“Suffering through a drought is hard enough, but to lose homes, sheds and stock through bushfires is just devastating,” Mr Vasta said.

GIVIT CEO Sarah Tennant said the organisation had been working with frontline services and charities to support the recovery process of bushfire-affected communities since early September.

“Christmas is always a hard time for people who are struggling financially, especially those Queenslanders affected by the ongoing drought as well as recent bushfires,” Ms Tennant said.

“We’re proud to be partnering with the Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP to continue to help those in the Granite Belt, who have already received thousands of donated items through GIVIT including white goods and essential clothing for young families.”

Mr Vasta said the Christmas appeal would run for six weeks, finishing on December 13.

“This is a fantastic way for residents and businesses in my electorate of Bonner to support farmers, families and local businesses in one of Queensland’s drought affected communities.

“I’m so pleased to be able to create this avenue for people in Bonner to do something positive and selfless, by supporting regional families who are struggling through the festive season.”

Big-hearted residents in the Bonner electorate can donate funds to purchase particular items or services, such as:

  • $2 will provide a newspaper from the Stanthorpe Newsagency for a farmer affected by the drought
  • $5 will provide a coffee from Brinx Deli & Café for a volunteer firefighter
  • $10 will provide Christmas decorations from Price Busters Variety Stanthorpe for a vulnerable family
  • $20 will provide a cosmetics voucher from Pure Heaven for a single woman affected by recent bushfires
  • $30 will provide a Christmas lunch at the RSL for an elderly man living alone
  • $40 will provide a premium pack of meat from Stanthorpe Quality Meats for a couple’s Christmas lunch
  • $50 will provide a lady’s gift voucher for Pink Poppies Living Creatively to decorate a property damaged by bushfires
  • $80 will provide a clothes voucher from Eclectic Palate for a woman displaced by bushfires
  • $200 will provide a groceries voucher for a drought-affected family’s Christmas feast from the Spano’s Supa IGA
  • $300 will provide an electric guitar from Top Beat Entertainment & Electronics for drought-affected family to surprise a teenager
  • $500 will provide a voucher from Howard & Sons Mitre 10 for a man who’s shed was destroyed by bushfires

To donate to the Ross Vasta Christmas Appeal for Stanthorpe visit GIVIT.org.au/donate-funds, select Christmas 2019 in the “Donate to” options, and put ‘VASTA’ in the comments box.

100 per cent of funds received will be used to purchase items for Stanthorpe residents in need this Christmas.