'You can't see a child go without a Christmas present. That's just not on.'

Last year the Kangaroo Flat Uniting Church's drive helped more than 100 families with their Christmas gifts. This year Max Blume believes . or signup to continue reading The cost-of-living crisis will hit many families hard this December, the coordinator of the annual Christmas Drive said.

"This year, I think we might get a lot more than that because of the economic situation," Mr Blume said. "We're getting new ones coming every day now." Mr Blume said anyone wanting to be added to the drive's list had until December 9, so volunteers had time to pick out the perfect gifts for each child.

They are then handed out between December 13 and December 20. "We don't like giving presents out that a child might not need," he said. "If they're not quite sure when they get their present, we can help them and change it over or anything like that - that's not a problem.

" "You can't see a child go without a Christmas present. That's just not on." Federal Member for Bendigo Lisa Chesters said the .

"If we can help with a few toys at Christmas, it just means that people have a little bit extra to spend on the basics, like their rent or their electricity bills, making sure they have food on the table," she said. "Christmas - we don't want that to be a luxury." "We don't want somebody missing out on celebrating Christmas with their family because they don't have the toy to give to their grandchild or their niece.

" Anyone wanting to register for or donate to the Christmas Drive can do so at the .