UNDER the Tree, a concept developed four years ago by LifeHouse Care in Coffs Harbour to help families doing it tough over Christmas, last Thursday travelled to Moree for the first time.

LifeHouse Pantry multi-site manager, Kellie Small, said Moree lived up to its name as a generous community.

“We have a lot of beautiful items donated from people in Moree,” Kellie said.

“Over all our spaces, the Moree church has provided the most. Moree is a very generous town. We filled a trailer to bring here and the Moree community and families donated another 70 toys to add to that,” she smiled.

Kellie said coastal hotel toy drives at the Hoey Moey, Corinda Beach Hotel, Coramba Hotel and Seaview Tavern, as well as Toy World in Coffs Harbour and Woolworths in Moree, collected toys to put under the Moree tree.

“This year, we’ve done a lot of fundraising on the coast,” Kellie said.

“Toy collection points were established at different hotel locations, with all pubs matching those donations.

“We’ve grown every year and Under the Tree takes a bit of pressure off people at Christmas. It can be a challenging time.”

From left: Pantry multi-site manager, Kellie Small, Lifehouse Care leader, Nathan Hannaford, Kowhai Roberts holding baby Narlaiyah Johnson, Rita Roberts holding Jaziah Johnson, Janella Roberts, Lifehouse Moree Op-Shop manager, Casey Ryan, Tess Spry at Under the Tree at Moree LifeHouse Church on Thursday.

Moree LifeHouse Church’s Suzy Simpson said the response from church members was amazing.

“This is our first year, and we really wanted to do something that gave back to our community,” Suzy said.

“We put up a tree and told people in our church family about it, and the enthusiasm was so great.

“There were little tags on the tree to help people decide whether they were going to buy for pre-schoolers or different age groups.

“Everyone got on board and we had at least 70 gifts donated from within the church to put under the tree.

“Moree is an incredible community and a generous community – and not just generous financially,” she said.

“There were people having conversations with people who have gone through really difficult times, and they just really appreciate having someone to take the time to listen to them and have a chat.”

Lifehouse Care leader, Nathan Hannaford from Coffs Harbour, said the organisation has seen an increase in the number of everyday people affected by the cost of living and inflation.

“This is the fourth year for Under The Tree, and our first year running it at all our locations, including Moree,” Mr Hannaford said.

“The concept came from our food pantries, where we keep low-cost groceries at affordable prices.

“We thought, why not do it with Christmas gifts to alleviate the pressure of buying gifts at this time of year,” he said.

Under the Tree is supported by the church community, local communities and business houses and organisations.

“Participants sponsor a gift valued at between $30 and $50 and our families can access these gifts for three-dollars each, and will still have their pride and dignity knowing they’ve bought and contributed something to put under the tree this year for their kids and grandkids,” Mr Hannaford said.

“We’re seeing more and more everyday people affected by the cost of living and inflation. Our focus is on working with those on and below the poverty line.”

LifeHouse Care primarily works with Food Pantry and Foodbank Australia, Mr Hannaford said.

“If people have food in their bellies with a good night’s sleep, they can face tomorrow.”

Lifehouse Moree Op-Shop manager, Casey Ryan, said Under the Tree was “about the Moree community helping the Moree community”.

“The church initiated this event and we offered the families we know, the opportunity to come along,” Casey said.

“There’s a lot of struggle in Moree. Christmas is an expensive time of year, so this really helps families.

“Moree is doing it tough, and there are a lot of people in very tough places at the moment.

“Under the Tree is about Moree people helping Moree people,” she said.