Karen Pollard (left), executive director of community service for Community Services #1, and Mikayla Griesbach (right), CS#1’s manager of community services, accept the first batch of food vouchers from the 100s for 1000s campaign from Hands Across Canberra CEO Genevieve Jacobs. Photos: CS#1.
Last week, one of my boys texted unexpectedly to ask whether I knew which blood group he and his identical twin are.
It was pertinent — I’m O negative, so there’s a decent chance my boys are too. I donate regularly, but on the morning after the Bondi shootings, queues to give blood in Sydney stretched for hours and the universal donor blood type was being prioritised.
I was proud that my boys’ first impulse, like that of so many others, was to give whatever they could to help. I often say at Hands Across Canberra that we bring all our gifts and talents, no matter what they are, to build a better community.
Because, whether it’s a crisis or not, giving makes a difference to those in need — and to you, too.
It’s better than accumulating material goods, and much better than all the self-indulgence being promoted on your social media stream.
We hear a lot these days about celebrating yourself, protecting yourself, nurturing yourself and prioritising your own wellbeing. That’s no bad thing — but my No. 1 tip for ensuring you feel good is giving to others.
Two weeks before Christmas, Hands Across Canberra and the 100s for 1000s campaign, founded by local hero Natalie Tanchevski, handed out the first batch of food vouchers to 10 Canberra pantries, chosen to cover the ACT and including Queanbeyan and Yass (the campaign continues until Christmas Day).
The food vouchers provide choice for families struggling to put food on the table at Christmas, and dignity. Choice around the food they want for their families, and dignity in shopping for themselves at Woolies or our pantry partners Supabarn Supermarkets.
We’ve worked with St John’s Community Care, Communities at Work, Community Services # 1, Food Fair at Anglicare Queanbeyan, Tuckerbox, HandUp Food Care Pantry, the Lanyon Food Hub, Arawang Emergency Relief, Yass Vine Community Food Care and the Little Pantry at Woden to ensure the help goes where it’s needed most.
The people who run these pantries and so many others are heroes in every sense. Thank you to them, and to everyone who steps in to ensure our neighbours receive the help they need.
Recipients and donors to the 100s for 100os Christmas food campaign, including Natalie and Ruby Tanchevski (centre), gather to distribute the first batch of food vouchers.
All sorts of Canberra businesses stepped up for the campaign, including mega donor Cordelta, super donors Cord Civil, SPA Accounting, Brodburger, CDC, SolarHub, The Property Collective, one x, The Tall Foundation, Capital Chemist Group, Super Smile, Southern Plumbing Plus, McDonald’s and Elvin Group Pty Ltd.
To me, those businesses define what it means to be a good Canberran — to give to your community and step up when people need a hand.
Many of you gave and are still giving — you are all making a difference to families for whom the crisis is not a passing moment but an everyday reality.
And what goes around comes around. At the food pantries, it’s surprisingly common to receive a significant donation of groceries from someone who needed help a year or two before but is now back on their feet and wanting to give.
Every year after the Christmas gifts are purchased and the ham is collected, I sit down to donate to causes I care about personally. Those quiet moments over a cup of tea are often among the best of the festive season, a space where the simple act of doing something for others predominates.
It doesn’t have to be money, either — perhaps you have skills to give, or other resources. Canberrans volunteer more than anyone else in Australia, so your New Year’s resolution might be to give your time where it will be useful.
I believe with all my heart this is one of the most generous communities in Australia. Thank you, Canberra, and let’s step up for 2026.
Genevieve Jacobs is the CEO of Hands Across Canberra, the ACT’s community foundation.
