Better To Give Is Right Spirit
Illawarra Mercury
Saturday November 27, 1999
Customers at National Hire and NS Donnelley prefer to give rather than receive at Christmas.
For the past seven years the companies have donated 200 Christmas hampers to Mission Australia instead of giving a gift to their customers.
National Hire Illawarra Area manager Sonia Zanetti said customers were happy to forfeit a case of beer or bottle of wine in favour of those less fortunate at Christmas.
``We can all do without a $30 bottle of scotch when you know someone in need will get a Christmas hamper," she said.
``That is what the spirit of Christmas is all about."
National Hire employee Jim Cergovski agreed and said giving someone a hand when you were able to was the right thing to do.
Penny Magro from Wollongong's Mission Australia branch said the continued generosity of National Hire, NS Donnelley and their customers would make Christmas for many families a little brighter this year.
``There is a large group of disadvantaged people in the Illawarra because of the high unemployment rate," she said.
``We see 35 families for interviews each week and hand out almost 200 vouchers for food, electricity and prescriptions each month.
``It is particularly difficult for families over Christmas who want to be able to give something special to their kids."
Mrs Magro said a 14 per cent State Government funding cut had placed an added burden on Mission Australia's shoulders.
Without the generosity of companies like National Hire and NS Donnelley many families would have had a bleak Christmas this year.
© 1999 Illawarra Mercury
