While most people in Ballarat were able to enjoy a Christmas lunch with their family or friends, that luxury is not available for many people within the wider community.
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Thankfully, many businesses and services within the community went out of their way to help provide some Christmas cheer on Wednesday afternoon.
One of those services came from Uniting Ballarat, who held their annual Christmas lunch at the Uniting Breezeway on Dana Street.
Breezeway Coordinator Fiona Clinton said the lunch was a great opportunity to give back to those in the community without an avenue to otherwise enjoy a delicious holiday feast.
"We have a lot of regulars that come in all the time and this time of the year can be really hard for them," she said.
"It can be hard if they don't have cooking facilities or home or family to spend the day with.... This for them is their home and we wanted to give them a lunch to enjoy."
Mrs Clinton, who works in the Breezeway frequently said she was asked by clients if the facilities would be open on Christmas day, to which she responded joyously.
"I work in the Breezeway all the time and people were asking me 'are you open Christmas day?' and I told them of course, because they are my family.
"It's just been amazing to see the smiles on the faces of people who have come through and how grateful they are."
One of the clients who enjoyed the holiday lunch was Peter, who said the lunch is a great help to him and others in similar situations.
"If I wasn't here today I don't know what I'd be doing," he said.
Peter, who has come to the lunch for the past four years, said Christmas can be a difficult time for him as it brings up the anniversary of his mothers passing, but was thankful for the effort put in by Uniting Ballarat.
My mother passed away on Christmas so its not a time of year that I really enjoy, but to be able to come here always helps.
- Uniting Ballarat client Peter
"They do a terrific job of making sure everyone is included and giving people who need it a place to go on Christmas day."
Mrs Clinton thanked the community for helping the lunch take place, with the vast majority of the food coming from donations and funding from the 3BA Christmas Appeal.
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