Bringing hope to the table at Christmas

For many families, Christmas is a time of celebration. For others, it can be a season of financial stress and uncertainty. Thanks to the generosity of Shepparton Mooroopna Lodge and FFV, hundreds of families in Mooroopna and Shepparton were able to enjoy a brighter Christmas through the Sanctuary Church's annual Christmas Hamper Appeal.

With a combined contribution of $3,000, the project helped provide food hampers to families experiencing hardship. The annual outreach has supported the local community for more than 12 years and has become even more important following the devastating floods of 2022, which displaced many residents and left lasting impacts across the region.

The funding contributed to the purchase of food and essential Christmas items, helping ensure local families could enjoy a festive meal together and experience the care and support of their community.

The impact of the appeal was significant. During the 2025 Christmas season, 364 families received food hampers, while 1,525 children were also gifted Christmas presents through the program.

364

families received food hampers

1,525

children received presents

As Sanctuary Church's Sandy Anderson explained:

“Some of these families don’t get to have the opportunity to celebrate or struggle to enjoy what is suppose to be a joyful time of the year. This is why we do what we do, to give the families a chance to enjoy Christmas and help relieve some of the stress and the sadness they face.”

“We would like to thank you for your vast generosity towards our cause. We wouldn’t be able to do what we did without your help and assistance.”

Beyond providing practical support, the project delivered something equally valuable: the knowledge that the community cares. Through the partnership between the local Lodge, Freemasons Foundation Victoria and Sanctuary Church, Christmas became a little brighter for hundreds of local families when they needed it most.