ABOUT 60 free food hampers and up to 400 presents for children have been donated to families in need as part of the Vinnies Christmas Appeal by a group of hills volunteers.

Organised by Bernadette Waugh and husband Russell, they said they have spent the last six weeks packing, collecting, and wrapping the presents, which on Wednesday morning were delivered around Midland and the surrounding hills suburbs by the Midland Conference for the Western Australian division of the St Vincent de Paul Society.

Mrs Waugh said that during the lead up to delivery day, her house becomes overloaded with presents, which her friends Jan Fowler and Vera Spadaccini all check for appropriateness and label according to age and gender.

“All these presents are placed inside the rooms of the ‘Waugh castle’ until they are joined with the food hampers for delivery to the appropriate families at the end of November and early December for the Christmas season,” she said.   

Mrs Waugh said that they were incredibly grateful to everyone who helped with donations, with Upper Swan Primary School, Mundaring Catholic Primary School, Glen Forrest Primary School, and St Anthony’s Greenmount Primary School providing donations.

She said that Greenmount and Mundaring Catholic Parish also helped – with the deliveries and pre-delivery present and hamper storage taking place at Greenmount Parish – and thanked the community for their generosity.

“We and the community are deeply indebted to them all,” she said.

Vinnies WA community engagement executive manager Andrew York said the Waughs and the volunteers hard work can make Christmas easier for families struggling this year.

“Christmas can be really hard for families who are going through a hard time and struggling to make ends meet,” he said.

“Thanks to generous donations from the community, our volunteer members can spread a little Christmas joy this year by providing gifts and food hampers to local families experiencing hardship.”