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St Vincent de Paul has launched its annual Christmas Appeal and is seeking community support to put smiles on the faces of others less fortunate.

Today, as many families prepare to celebrate the festive season with their loved ones, spare a thought for people doing it tough this Christmas.

Some gifts have the ability to stay with a person for life and forever change the way they see the world and how they deal with it. Hope is such a gift.

At Vinnies in Tatura, volunteers see hope in the face of despair.

This Christmas, your donation will help Vinnies provide much-needed help, from practical assistance to food hampers, emotional support, and even gifts for children so they may still participate in the joy of Christmas.

More than anything Vinnies volunteers can give hope to locals in their time of need.

Donated items need to be clean and useable.

Day in and day out Tatura volunteers receive stinking, filthy items which are costing the centre hundreds of dollars to dispose of each week, money which should be better used servicing the community.

‘‘I am totally over it,’’ one volunteer said last week.

‘‘We are not a rubbish dump and people need to think carefully about what they drop off. While we’re happy to accept most donations, volunteers should not be subject to handling filth.’’

To donate to the Vinnies Christmas appeal, phone 58241443 or pop into the Francis St store.