Christmas can be a difficult time for many people, both financially and emotionally, but there are support services available if you need to access them.

Services

Food hamper and gift assistance:

Salvation Army – 1300 371 288 visit their website here.

Food and financial assistance:

Anglicare –
02 8624 8600 (available Monday to Friday, 9am-4pm) or visit their website here.

Salvation Army –
1300 371 288 or visit their website here.

St Vincent De Paul –
13 18 12 or visit their website here.

Anglicare Community Pantry:

Anglicare runs a Mobile Community Pantry that visits different suburbs of Sydney throughout the week, including Blacktown, Katoomba, Granville, Canterbury, and many more.

To check which date the pantry will be coming to your area, visit their website: https://www.anglicare.org.au/mobile-community-pantry

Mental Health:

Lifeline –
13 11 14 or visit https://www.lifeline.org.au for more information or to chat with someone for support online 24/7. You can also text 0477 131 114 for support 24/7.

Mental health line –
Call 1800 011 511 for the mental health line. This line is run by NSW Health and is staffed by mental health professionals 24/7 who can chat with you to determine if you, or someone you know, needs ongoing mental health care and how urgent the need is. They can also link you to mental health services.

Suicide call back service –
Call 1300 659 467 or visit https://www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au. This service is a 24 hour, nationwide service that provides free telephone, video and onine counselling. They use professional trained counsellors who have specialised skills in working with suicide-related issues. It is open to anyone who is affected by suicide (whether feeling suicidal themselves having lost someone to suicide, or having a loved one feeling suicidal).

Other useful links:

AskIzzy (accommodation, food, domestic violence, support and counselling, drugs and alcohol, employment, legal and more) – www.askizzy.org.au

Way Ahead (mental health) – www.wayahead.org.au

Free Christmas lunches

Salvation Army Christmas Lunch – Bankstown

When: 10.30am, 25 December 2021
Where: 42 Raymond Street, Bankstown NSW 2200

Enjoy a packed lunch on Christmas Day, courtesy of the Salvation Army.

For more information, click here.

Salvation Army Christmas Lunch – Surry Hills

When: 25 December 2021 – 9.30am for breakfast; 12pm for lunch
Where: 339 Crown Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010

Join in on the spirit of the festive season at the Salvos Christmas Party in Surry Hills. There will be a BBQ breakfast in the morning, then a lunch at midday.

For more information, click here.

Wayside Chapel Christmas Day Street Party – Potts Point

When:
25 December 2021
9am-10.30am: Christmas breakfast
10.30am-11.15am: Church service (outside, seated)
11.30am-2.30pm: Lunch service (outside, on picnic blankets)
3pm: event finishes

Where: The Wayside Chapel, 29 Hughes Street, Potts Point Sydney NSW 2011

The Wayside Chapel’s Christmas Day Street Party is back for 2021, and is free for anyone who wants to attend. The street will be covered in turf so that attendees can enjoy their meal outside in the fresh air in a COVID-safe way. Everyone is welcome, so if you have no plans for Christmas, join in!

Please register online so that the organiser can keep track of numbers. Register by clicking here.