Our Christmas Assistance Program supports people who are experiencing hardship in Southern Tasmania over Christmas.
Do you need help this Christmas?
We can support you with:
🍴Food Packs
🎁 Toys for children aged 16 and under
🫧 Toiletries
Applications open on Friday 1st November. Please apply early because spaces are limited.
Submitting an application does not guarantee that you will get assistance, as we only have limited funding. Please see below the key dates for this year.
If you need support now, please visit our Emergency Relief page by clicking here.
Changes to the Christmas Assistance Program for 2024
Hobart City Mission has made some changes to the Christmas Assistance Program (CAP) in 2024 to support more families in need in Southern Tasmania.
The Hobart City Mission’s Christmas Assistance Program supports Southern Tasmanians facing hardship during the festive season by providing essential support like food, personal care items, pet food and toys for children.
In 2023 there were over 1500 applications for the Christmas Assistance Program and of these applications more than 2400 children received a gift to open on Christmas Day.
In 2024 we predict to see the need for support in the community increase and to make sure we can support the increase, we’ve had to review what support the program offers.
In order to continue to meet the needs of those seeking support, some changes have had to be made to ensure the program is sustainable into the future.
What’s New for 2024:
- Gifts for children under 16*, food packs, pet food, and personal care packs will be included in all support offered.
- Woolworths vouchers will no longer be part of the support received through the Christmas Assistance Program.
- We are not always able to provide the same assistance as previous years, as this program relies heavily on donations from the community. This means each year the items you will receive may look different, based on the donations we receive in that particular year.
- *Unfortunately, we are not able to provide toys for grandchildren.
Key Information – 2024
- Applications OPEN: You can apply for support from 1st –22nd November 2024 online here.
- Application link will be live from 1 November.
- If your application is successful, you will be notified by 29th November.
- You will then be invited to book a time slot to collect the support at the distribution venue. This year there will be 1-hour timeslots to ensure there is a smooth flow through our distribution venue. If you come outside your selected time slot, you will be asked to return at the pre-booked time you have selected.
- Distribution: Collection for Singles and Families will be held separately to ensure a smoother experience.
- Distribution Venue: 15 Main Road Moonah (previously Moonah Furniture Warehouse)
- Families with Children can collect their items between 16th – 18th December 2024
- Single Families can collect their items between 19th – 20th December 2024
Donated items
The Christmas Assistance Program is made possible by the generosity of our community. As all items are donated, the quantity and type of items may vary. We are grateful for the kindness of others that allows us to support so many families during the festive season.
Need further assistance?
We understand that this change may feel different from previous years. We are confident that these changes will allow us to support more people in our community doing it tough during the holiday season.
If you need additional support beyond the Christmas Assistance Program, please refer to the list of support available within Southern Tasmania.
Support Agency | Support Offering | Contact Information |
Hobart City Mission | Emergency Relief | (03) 6215 4200. |
The Salvation Army | Christmas: Bag of hope | 0409 239 016 |
Vinnies Tas | Christmas Support | (03) 6234 4244 |
Uniting Tasmania – Hobart Office | Emergency Relief | (03) 6244 1144 |