For Brightwater woman Danielle Hennessy, Christmas has always been about kindness, generosity and gratitude. Growing up with a solo mum who was studying, she vividly remembers the excitement of receiving a Christmas box from the Salvation Army.
“I remember opening the box up and feeling so excited,” Danielle says. “Mum would have been so grateful.”
It’s a feeling she has never forgotten – and one she is now passing on to others.
Years ago, before having children, Danielle quietly gave back.
“I would buy whole chickens, make up gift boxes at Christmas from my own money,” she recalls. “But when the kids came along, it fell by the wayside.”
This December, Danielle felt the pull to start again. Wanting to recreate that same sense of excitement and relief she remembered from childhood, she posted on Facebook asking if anyone would like to donate items to brighten someone’s Christmas. The response was overwhelming.
“It’s not just families,” Danielle explains. “There are a lot of pensioner flats around here. Some people don’t get visitors at all. Sometimes you have to look beyond your own four walls and think about what others might be going through.”
Around the same time, charitable trust The Big Bake Up had already been collecting donations as part of its seasonal outreach. When Danielle’s post caught their attention, it felt like a natural fit. The group, known for delivering cooked meals and care parcels, reached out to team up.
What began as a simple idea quickly became a community-wide effort. Friends, strangers, workmates and local businesses all stepped forward to support the cause.
“Collaborating with The Big Bake Up has actually been really fun,” Danielle says.
“We’ve collected and put items together and shared deliveries.”
Her young children have been involved too – something Danielle values deeply. She hopes it teaches them the joy of giving and the understanding that everyone’s circumstances are different.
For Danielle, the motivation is personal. She remembers the relief and happiness those Christmas boxes once brought to her own family and hopes that same spark is felt by others this year.
“If you can find something in life that fills your cup, then do it,” she says.
This Christmas, thanks to Danielle, The Big Bake Up and a generous community, many cups – and hearts – are a little fuller.
