Our very own Santa Claus!

Christmas is always a busy time of year for Santa. At CatholicCare Victoria, our very own Santa (Nevin Verghis, Donor Relations Lead) has spent the past few months preparing and collecting food for people in need. 

Santa sought the aid of his helpers to collect food from schools and other generous donors across Victoria, like the Catholic Development Fund and CatholicCare Victoria staff. Santa also received help from local supermarkets and food companies, some of whom gave discounted prices for their food. 

Last week, Santa called all his helpers together to prepare food hampers in a very efficient warehouse. The group of helpers prepared the bags, packed the food and tied the ribbons, organised the hampers in an orderly fashion, and dissembled the mountains of cardboard packing boxes for recycling – all under the instruction and support of Santa. 

Then when all of the hampers had been prepared, all 510 of them, Santa prepared his sleigh to deliver them across Victoria.

Santa travelled to Bendigo, Warragul, Pakenham, Footscray, Geelong and Ballarat. But Santa’s reindeer were very tired after their long journey, and so Santa sought the support of helpers in Mildura to pack 90 more food hampers, and 20 hampers in Wangaratta, to support even more people in need. 

Over the next few weeks leading to Christmas, Santa’s helpers distributed the hampers to families and individuals across Victoria, who are struggling to put food on the table.

Santa (Nevin Verghis) delivers to Geelong.

We would like to thank Santa and all his helpers for all their hard work and dedication to supporting people in need. We were able to help 510 families and that would not have been possible without your support.

We are also so very grateful to have Nevin, our very own Santa at CatholicCare Victoria. 

The Very Nice List:

Santa: Nevin Verghis, Donor Relations Lead

Santa's helpers: CatholicCare Victoria staff, too many to name!

Santa’s food donors: 

• Catholic Development Fund
• Stella Maris Catholic Primary School – Point Cook  
• St Dominics Primary School – Melton
• St Fidelis Primary School – Coburg
• Mount Saint Joseph Girls College – Altona
• Catholic Regional College – Caroline Springs
• Antonine College – Coburg
• Saint Francis Xavier – Box Hill
• Resurrection School – Keysborough