On Christmas Eve, many people will be settling down and waiting for Santa to climb down the chimney,but Tom Goolagong will be with colleagues from Clontarf driving around Orange, distributing food.
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This year Mr Goolagong teamed up with the Parkview Hotel to start a food van visiting lower socio-economic areas around Orange to deliver food to disadvantaged people in Glenroi and Bowen, and he's bringing a Christmas theme to the fore.
Instead of the curried sausages and rice from earlier in the year, Mr Goolagong and co. will be dropping hams, turkeys and chickens around the community to help generate a bit of festive cheer.
That run will be on Christmas eve and Mr Goolagong is calling on people across Orange to help support the run.
He's already had $800 in donations to get the ball rolling but is aiming to ramp that up to give food to as many people as possible across locations like Kurim Avenue, South Terrace, Spring Street and just behind the Showgrounds.
It's eye-opening to see the different ways people live and some people are doing it a lot harder than what I am and are really appreciative (of the help).
- Tom Goolagong
The first three runs have all been aided by the chefs at the Parkview, which has been a big task given the pub is wall-to-wall during the Christmas period.
But the idea of bringing Christmas food to the community is too good an opportunity to let pass.
"We've done three runs now, once each term. Ben Cochran from the Parkview, he gets his chef to cook something up, last time we had 200 servings, free of cost," Mr Goolagong said.
He said the whole experience was rewarding and is a great way to give back to our community.
"Everyone appreciates it," Mr Goolagong added.
"It's eye-opening to see the different ways people live and some people are doing it a lot harder than what I am and are really appreciative.
"When we went east last time there were about 30-odd kids from different households around and I find that really rewarding, nice to give a barefooted kid some food."
He's organised a discount price for the Christmas meat from Barrett's Wholesale Food, but is calling for donations to "help people have an enjoyable Christmas".
Orders will be placed on Thursday, with Mr Goolagong hoping people can contact him on 0423 313 317 or email thomasgoolagong@gmail.com to tee up donations.
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