By ALESHA CAPONE
**********Staff from The Youth Junction Inc in Sunshine will hold a Christmas Day lunch for young people who are homeless or alone. 107921 Picture: DAMJAN JANEVSKI*************
THE Visy Cares Hub in Sunshine will welcome young people from across the West to a Christmas Day lunch in December.
Karen Hart, the general manager of Youth Junction Inc which oversees the hub, said the Visy Cares Hub assisted more than 18,000 young people from across Brimbank, Maribyrnong, Melton, Hobsons Bay and Wyndham every year.
“Christmas can be a really sad, lonely time for young people,” Ms Hart said.
“That time of year can bring home how sad and isolated they are, as it is a very materialistic time of year for many people with lots of bright lights and glitz.
“Looking at it from afar can make a young person feel very alone.
“Two months ago, we were just talking about the amount of homeless young people and those who don’t have adequate family support about them, and we want to do something to respond to that isolation when everyone else has someone to lean on.”
The resulting idea was to hold a Christmas Day lunch at the hub, which will be attended by staff, volunteers and some Youth Junction board directors.
Ms Hart said they were expecting around 150 young people would attend the meal.
Youth Junction has put out the call among corporate organisations and businesses to donate gifts to give young people on the day.
“We’ve put the call out for gifts for $10 to $20 which are suitable for a young person aged 12 to 35, even practical stuff like trainers, T-shirts, shorts, thongs and rucksacks, that young people will need in summer,” she said.
Ms Hart said the staff were also hoping to have a Wii game and an iPad for prizes at the lunch.
She said donations could be pre-wrapped, but would need to be age-appropriate and include a note to say whether they were suitable for a male or female.
To help out, contact Ms Hart on info@youthjunctioninc.net.au or 9091 8201.
