Come Christmas week, the teams at the Andrew Russell Veteran Living program (ARVL) in Adelaide and the Port Noarlunga Christies Beach RSL go that bit further to cheer residents of the 10 supported living units.
This year, like for about the last 5, wonderful Christmas hampers will arrive at just the right time.
ARVL local manager Ricky Skiathitis, who also gets to play Santa, praised the effort of the RSL team that packages the hampers.
‘The Port Noarlunga Christies Beach RSL, led by their President Jason Tank, has been fabulous with these hampers, which are always received with great excitement and appreciation,’ Ricky said.
‘We have found that non-perishables, good old standby treats like chocolates and Christmas puddings, and vouchers are very popular.
‘There is also something special in each hamper that is particular for the resident of the unit. For example, we included some gym gear for a young man who was very keen on fitness and some BBQ gear for another.
‘Residents really appreciate these hampers and are often amazed that someone is thinking about them at this time of the year. The hampers make a big difference for them.’
The ARVL program supports veterans and their families who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness with accommodation for 4–6 months, and wrap around services, to help them get back to a stable living arrangement.
The program was established in honour of Andrew Russell, the first Australian serviceman killed in Afghanistan. It has been run by RSL Care SA since 2017.
