Season for giving

THE Brassall community has a history of digging deep for the needy around Christmas time, and management at the local shopping centre is banking on another generous showing in the lead-up to this festive season.

For the last seven years, the Brassall Shopping Centre has collected toys and food donations to pass on to the Ulysses Club for its annual toy run, as well as the local Salvos, who pass the donations on to needy families.

Centre spokesman John Tofte said the appeal managed to collect between 650 and 700 items last year - an excellent showing for such a small shopping centre.

"We have two collection boxes for toys and two for food, and we usually manage to fill each of them twice," Mr Tofte said.

"We are hoping to do even better this year. We know that the people here are generous and that they understand that it's a really good cause.

"There is also a depot in the centre office for any larger gifts - some people donate teddy bears that are quite large."

The Ulysses Club commences its annual toy run from the Brassall Shopping Centre on December 9, finishing at the Ipswich Showgrounds.

The Salvos will bring a truck in to collect the remainder of the donations and distribute them to the needy in time for Christmas.

The Brassall Shopping Centre branch of the Bendigo Bank is also getting into the spirit, calling for donations for two families it has adopted for the festive season.

The bank has placed a Christmas shopping list for the families at the Brassall branch.