What initially appeared to be a gesture of kindness by the customers and staff of the pharmacy was actually a part of a much larger demonstration of the Christmas spirit by some amazing organisations and members of the community.

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“The Nambucca Plaza Pharmacy has had a long association with Lions Clubs in the district and, as the community supports us, we wanted to do something to support the community and saw the collection of Christmas gift donations as a way to do that,” Nambucca Plaza Pharmacy’s Calissa Keough told News Of The Area.

The gifts collected by the Nambucca Plaza Pharmacy were then taken by the Lions Club of Nambucca Heads to Macksville to be included in food hampers being put together and distributed by an organisation known as Global Care.

Global Care works as an extension of the local church, and states that their operations are on a mission to love and serve their local communities.

Each local Global Care operation responds to the specific needs of the people in their respective community.

Local operations have established food care programs, counselling services, low-cost shopping opportunities, and support for minority groups.

At Macksville the Global Care team, Lions and other community volunteers work hard to put together hampers to be distributed where they are needed across the district.

“We believe that love has to look like something so we reach out to help those who may be homeless and living in their cars, coming out of domestic violence situations or families who are struggling,” Global Care’s Moira Hodgekiss told News Of The Area.

“Many people and families have never had to reach out before so we work hard to break the stigma around receiving what may be perceived as charity and show people that we are there for them and we are helping them out of love.”

Moira provided the example of a lady they reached out to last Christmas who was living in her car with her children here in the Nambucca Valley with no food or gifts at Christmas.

“Many people don’t realise that it is happening here under our noses but we see it every week,” Moira added.

The food that is distributed comes from multiple sources including donations from generous locals, community groups and purchased from food banks.

Global Care initially aimed to produce 100 hampers however they advise that the need has now exceeded that amount.

Once the food is put together in washing baskets by the volunteers, gifts, such as those collected at the Plaza Pharmacy, will be placed in the baskets.

Global Care is not funded so the food and gifts will be distributed across the district by volunteers who will use their own vehicles and pay for their own fuel.

To find out more about the amazing work Global Care does in our community you can email them on info@actionchurch.org.au

By Mick BIRTLES