Christmas cheer is again being spread across Millicent with 200 hampers and an assortment of toys distributed to the needy on Thursday.
Rather than overseeing the billion-dollar Kimberly-Clark Australia Millicent Mill, manager Adam Carpenter spent several hours the previous day in a hands-on way of assisting the Millicent Community Christmas Appeal.
Mr Carpenter, other KCA personnel and fellow community volunteers met at the former Millicent Netball Association clubrooms on North Terrace to pack the hampers for distribution to vulnerable individuals and families.
The appeal has been running for over 30 years and KCA has always been generous donors of tissue and paper products.
The company’s contribution increased this year with the addition of manpower.
According to Mr Carpenter, KCA had a long-held policy of actively encouraging its employees to have a day’s paid leave each year to volunteer for a community group or charity.
Mr Carpenter said the majority of the company’s 350 local employees accepted this opportunity.
“We encourage them to pick a cause or a charity which they are passionate about,” Mr Carpenter said.
“KCA is looking to support the community in Millicent with product donations as we are aware of the inflationary pressures at the moment.
“We also donate paper and tissue products to Foodbank in Mount Gambier as well as the national Foodbank organisation.
“With the inundation caused by the floods in the Northern Rivers of New South Wales this year, KCA donated Huggies nappies.”
KCA employee Paul Holland has worked at the mill for 29 years and was happy to “put his shoulder to the wheel” to pack the hampers.
He praised the company for its annual Volunteer Day initiative.
“I checked with my supervisor to see if I could spend the time packing the Christmas hampers rather than at the Millicent Mill,” Mr Holland said.
“We are helping people out by giving to the needy.”
Wattle Range Mayor Des Noll has thanked Mr Carpenter for the manpower and product donations provided to the Millicent Community Christmas Appeal.
“We appreciate the commitment of KCA to our community and they are a corporate-friendly organisation,” Mayor Noll said.
“Millicent is a connected community and we do not want to leave anyone behind at Christmas.
“I would also like to thank the council staff who have assisted with the appeal in 2022 along with members of the churches in Millicent.
“Until 2020, the appeal was run by the churches but they had to withdraw from this role due to an ageing membership.”
Robyn Evans was one of the church members who has continued to assist with the Millicent Community Christmas Appeal.
Ms Evans is also involved with Vinnies which is the social welfare agency of the Catholic Church.
“I began helping out with the Christmas Appeal 37 years ago,” Ms Evans said.
“I like helping people.
“I wish the community of Millicent would come together more often.
“I know the younger people are so busy these days.”
As in past years, cash contributions for the hampers came from various sources while local people have also given non-perishable goods and toys through collection boxes placed in the local supermarkets, shops and schools.
