Conducted every November, Toys "n' Tucker is Sydney Anglicare's annual Christmas appeal to collect non-perishable Christmas food items and toys for struggling families. Over the years churches, schools and businesses have become involved in supporting the program which results in thousands of Christmas hampers being delivered to homes throughout the Sydney Diocese.

But you needn't wait until November. Other food drives are taking place throughout 2009 in the Sydney Diocese as part of local parishes' involvement with Connect09.

"Many parishes are realising the connections Sydney Anglicare already has in communities throughout the Sydney Diocese and recognising the benefits of partnering to reach out together", says Anglicare's parish partnerships team leader, Darren Farrell.

"Conducting a food drive or another Sydney Anglicare-related event is a great means by which church members can establish connections with people in their community.

"Most people would feel uncomfortable with knocking on a stranger's door, so partnering with a well-known organisation like Sydney Anglicare acts as an ice-breaker and can serve as the first of a number of contacts that can be made throughout the year.

However, Darren says that it's important for local churches to remember that a food drive is not merely an excuse to make connections, but is an activity that has real value in itself.

"If your church partners with a particular Sydney Anglicare service, collecting food and other goods that have been identified to address specific needs in a specific area, you are enabling your community to have a real and positive impact in the lives of families that are doing it tough.

"In addition, for your community to see Christians genuinely putting their faith in the person and work of Jesus into action to meet the physical needs of the less fortunate is a powerful apologetic that will provide opportunities for real connections and real gospel opportunities in your community."

CASE STUDY A:
Stanhope Anglican Church

Food collection for ANGLICARE as a community connector was put into use recently at Christmas by the congregation of Stanhope Anglican.

The church set up collection bins at Stanhope Village Shopping Centre and also partnered with John Palmer and Quakers Hill East Primary Public Schools to help families struggling at Christmas time.

Minister of Stanhope Anglican Church, Steve Reimer, says the partnerships they developed with the local shopping centre and schools helped to make the community aware of the church.

"When manning the collection boxes we spoke to a lot of community members, who now know about our church " setting up in the local shop for two weeks provided great awareness for a church with no home, meeting on Sundays in a leisure centre.

"We had a lot of positive feedback from the local shoppers - one lady asked me why we couldn't be there all the time, all year round, so she could support our cause."

Stanhope Anglican Church collected 1323 food items, all of which will be given to Anglicare to be distributed to where the need is.

The church congregation got right behind the appeal. One of the parishioners, Nigel, showed his initiative and set up a collection box at his work. This not only helped him receive donations, but also allowed him to demonstrate his faith to his work mates.

Steve says food drives are truly an amazing way to help the needy and connect with the community at the same time.

"It's a great opportunity to be doing something in the community and for the community.  It fits well with Connect09, but even if Connect09 wasn't happening we'd still be doing it to help us connect with our community and get to know them better."

CASE STUDY B:
Rosemeadow & Appin Anglican Church

Rosemeadow and Appin Anglican Church are utilising Anglicare in a different way to help and connect with the poor and needy in their local community.

Poverty is very real in the Rosemeadow and Appin area, but instead of door-knocking to collect food, they are raising awareness of their church by distributing it.

Rosemeadow and Appin Church will be receiving food hampers from Anglicare and from Saturday 20 December till Tuesday 23 December the church congregation will door knock on 800-1000 homes within their local Housing Commission area to deliver the food.

Assistant Minister of Rosemeadow and Appin Anglican Church, Dean Reilly, says the delivery of the food hampers to those most in need at Christmas time is a great way to connect and show them that some one cares.

"We have a strong parish, a strong church who know each other, but are yet to fully reach to the community and this hamper delivery project is a great way to start.

"This is a step towards helping others, whilst expressing the love of Jesus, our Saviour who cares for people and wants a relationship with them, so we have to be the people who make this happen."

Dean says this project is just the start of their Connect09 hopes.

"We want to start the connection, build a relation and then our ultimate aim is to deliver Bibles and see people brought to Christ.

"Our congregation is excited to get involved and continuing connecting for years to come - Connect09 is all about reaching out, rather than waiting for them to come and that's what we will do."