In the lead up to Christmas last year, the spirit of giving saw two AnglicareSA employees volunteer their time to go the extra mile – quite literally, as they drove the Thread Together mobile van from Adelaide to Whyalla to support the Whyalla Christmas Relief Appeal.

The community event, which brings together various local charities and organisations, as well as Whyalla City Council, provides Christmas food hampers and gifts to community members in need.

AnglicareSA’s Thread Together service has supported the event for several years, bringing the mobile van stocked with brand-new clothes, shoes, and accessories for the local community.

Thread Together Program Coordinator, Leanne Beazley, said that while there was a lot of logistics involved in planning such a large trip, it was well worth it to support the local Whyalla community.

“This trip was months in the making in terms of ordering and amassing the stock, sorting it, and packing it onto the van,” Leanne said.

“At this event, we supported 1,359 people with clothing, shoes, and accessories.”

One client who received clothes at the event said they were thankful for the support of the Thread Together service.

“An amazing service that helps beyond words,” they said.

“It provides people with good quality clothing that ordinarily they would not be able to purchase.”

 

 

 

AnglicareSA Senior Practitioner, Integrated Family Services, Gagan Singh, was one of the employees who volunteered across three days and said it was a powerful reminder of the impact clothing could have.

“I could see the immediate impact on individuals and families,” Gagan said.

“Not just through access to clothing, but in restoring dignity and confidence.

“What stood out most was the gratitude and warmth from the community.

“For many people, this support came at a particularly difficult time of year, and it was clear that even small acts of care can make a significant difference.”

Following the event, the remaining Thread Together clothing items were left behind for the local community to take.