The Christmas spirit of giving is evident in Millicent with a record 316 hampers and an assortment of toys and treats distributed to the needy yesterday morning.


While acknowledging the challenges facing local families Millicent Churches Community Christmas Appeal chairman Pastor Shaun Mulick is pleased with the response when the call went out for donations of cash and goods.


“It has been a great effort by the community of Millicent to support families in need,” Pastor Shaun said.


“Among the firms to support us has been the Kimberly-Clark Australia Millicent Mill.”


The appeal has been running for over 30 years and KCA has always been generous donors of tissue and paper products in that time.


Kimberly-Clark Australia Millicent Mill manager Adam Carpenter, other KCA personnel and fellow community volunteers met at the former Millicent Netball Association clubrooms on North Terrace on Tuesday to arrange the donated products for distribution to vulnerable individuals and families.


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.


He said the company made cash and product donations to local causes and these totalled $30,000 each year.


“We look for opportunities to maximise the benefit to community organisations,” Mr Carpenter said.


“KCA also wants to help out in places where our employees live.”


Human Resources manager Hayley Dunn said there were numerous places across the South East region in 2023 which benefitted from the labour and expertise of KCA personnel.


This year’s recipients included the Millicent National Trust Museum, Foodbank Mount Gambier, Millicent Shares a Plate and a working bee at the Tantanoola Football Club.