An Australian outreach charity has decided to hand out wristbands to the homeless to make sure that food and donation go to those who are most in need.
Sunrise reported that in previous years, ‘freeloaders’ had shown up to take advantage of the free food and presents given to the homeless by Mission Australia during their Christmas Lunch in Perth.
This year, organisers will work with inner-city referral agencies to hand out rubber wristbands to people who are homeless, inviting them to come to the event, enjoy a Christmas lunch and take a care package.
Mission Australia has thrown Christmas Lunch in the Park to support the homeless for 42 years
‘The event is an inclusive event and it’s primarily targeted at people who are vulnerable and those people who are experiencing homelessness,’ Mission Australia’s state director Jo Sadler said.
Ms Sadler explained that in previous years, ‘a few people who were not homeless or disadvantaged’ came to the event, ate the food and even took a free gift.
While the event is inclusive, the organisation primarily wants to help people who are vulnerable or experiencing homelessness over the festive season.
‘We would encourage those people who aren’t homeless or experiencing disadvantage to share their Christmas with their own family and friends and in their own community,’ Ms Sadler told The West.
‘It’s deeply disappointing that people who may be in a good financial position and ho can afford a Christmas meal and gifts for their family…That they would be willing to take that experience away from other people in need,’ Perth MP John Carey told Perth Now.
Mission Australia’s state director Jo Sadler (left) and Perth MP John Carey have slammed ‘freeloaders’ who have taken food and gifts away from those truly in need at Christmastime
About 300 volunteers will give up their time on Christmas Day to serve food to the homeless
He said that while the change may sound tough, they would go a long way to ensuring that the event was not abused by those who are not in need.
This is the 42nd year that Mission Australia has thrown a Christmas lunch for the homeless. Approximately 1,200 are expected to attend, along with 300 volunteers who will give up their time on Christmas Day to serve the food.
This year, gifts have been scrapped in favour of care packages, which will include toiletries and other essentials, in a bid to make the event ‘more appropriate’.
Ms Salder said that the feedback from previous years indicates that while people appreciate gifts, a care pack will be much more useful for those sleeping rough.