With Christmas only weeks away, many Ballarat families will be gearing up for the festive season and shopping for those little surprises to go under the tree.
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Many more Ballarat families, unfortunately, will not.
While there will be those in the community struggling to put food on the table this Christmas, there will be many more who will over-indulge, not only in food, but also in gifts.
Staggering new figures show Australian shoppers are expected to empty their wallets of more than $48.1 billion to fill stomachs and stockings this Christmas. In Victoria alone, $12.038 billion will be spent, up 2 per cent on last year’s figure.
The Australian Retailers Association and Roy Morgan Research figures predict at least 40 per cent of pre-Christmas sales will be on food.
And many people put themselves into debt to buy the presents and food, often paying for it off their credit cards for many months into the new year.
ARA executive director Russell Zimmerman says this year's nationwide spending would top 2015 Christmas sales by 2.3 per cent.
But when you are filling your shopping trollies or buying presents to fill those Santa bags, just remember those in Ballarat who are less fortunate.
For those in the city who are struggling with day-to-day living costs, let alone Christmas, the 2016 3BA Christmas Appeal hopes to ensure community families don’t miss out on the festive season.
During the recent appeal launch, director Peter Caligari said Christmas for many Ballarat area families would bring heartbreak.
"A successful 3BA Christmas Appeal can change all of this and provide our many less fortunate families with some real enjoyment this Christmas," Mr Caligari said.
City of Ballarat community development director Neville Ivey said welfare agencies in Ballarat were struggling at the moment.
"When it comes down to these periods of time, their resources are additionally stretched, so it’s of particular importance as a community that we get behind the appeal," Mr Ivey said.
Giving to the appeal could be the best Christmas present ever.
Donations of cash, toys and food items totaling $250,000 is needed to meet the demand for assistance. Donations can be left at the 3BA office, 56 Lydiard Street North.