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Festive Lunch Brings People Together

Newcastle Herald

Friday December 26, 2008

GR

THE Federal Government's cash bonus may have brought relief to struggling Hunter residents, with numbers slightly down at yesterday's Samaritans Christmas lunch.

Volunteers served more than 500 meals at Newcastle Foreshore railway sheds.

Hunter businesses gave food and gifts to those in need.

Samaritans Christmas co-ordinator Amy Radford said the number of attendees was slightly down on last year.

She believes the Government bonus paid to pensioners and low-to-middle income families may have helped people buy Christmas items they could not afford in 2007.

Ms Radford said yesterday's lunch was also about bringing people together.

"It's really important to foster that sense of community and that people feel, or people know, that they don't have to be alone at Christmas," she said.

© 2008 Newcastle Herald

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