Oakville Preschool, Oakville Public School sending Christmas hampers to the struggling Trundle community

Trundle is a small farming community in central west NSW that is suffering terribly from the current drought crisis, and the Oakville community is hoping Hawkesbury will rally behind them by donating items for 86 Christmas hampers to be sent to the families of Trundle Central School and St Patrick’s Primary School Trundle.

Elizabeth Sheridan, owner of Oakville Preschool Learning Centre, said hearing on the news about Trundle’s plight back in August lead the Oakville preschool and community to rally together to help the families and farmers by sending them non-perishable groceries along with letters and drawings from the children.

“The gratitude shown by the Trundle community was extremely heart warming,” she said.

“[Then] early this month Mrs Loren Hay a parent attending our service approached us to join her in running a Christmas drive for the families of Trundle.”

The Trundle schools have provided details about the affected families to the team at Oakville, and the hampers will include an age-appropriate present for every child, non-perishable food items and Christmas items like bon bons.  

“We are also asking families to include a Christmas card or letter, pictures and drawings from their children. We want to form a connection. Connections matter. They are important for mental health and emotional wellbeing,” said Ms Sheridan.

Donations have come flooding in from Oakville Preschool and Public School families, and residents from Pitt Town and surrounding suburbs, but more items are still needed to ensure each Trundle family gets a hamper at Christmas.

Oakville resident Mrs Hay, who initiated the hamper drive, encouraged the wider Hawkesbury community to donate the sorts of items they’d like to receive at Christmas.

“I love Christmas as do my kids but each year by donating to a charity I hope to show my kids that Christmas is not just about family and Santa, but about giving and helping others share that joy,” Mrs Hay said.

“We have had a few lovely businesses get involved with donations which is amazing. If there are any businesses that would love to get involved by either making a hamper or donating goods or gift cards to help us in reaching our goal, we would love to hear from them.”

All donations need to be received by Friday, November 30, and the hampers will be personally delivered to Trundle on Friday, December 7.

If you are interested in donating goods, contact Oakville Preschool Learning Centre on 4573 6553 or email admin@oakvillepreschool.com.au.