Bathurst Regional Council has organised a Christmas Picnic in the Parade event to be held on Saturday, 2 December 2017 between 5-9pm. Local families are being encouraged to bring a picnic basket and rug to Kings Parade and enjoy an afternoon of free kids activities, including market stalls, ornament making, live entertainment and a visit from Santa at 6.30pm.

In addition, residents are being asked to embrace the spirit of giving and bring along a gift for children and young people supported by Veritas House. Gifts can be wrapped or unwrapped, however we ask that if they are wrapped, that the age and gender is labelled on the gift. More than 70 local children and young people ranging in age from newborns to 18 will spend this Christmas in Foster Care and Veritas House is hopeful that local residents and businesses will help bring some Christmas cheer to these special children.

“Children and young people enter into foster care for a myriad of reasons, but generally they have experienced a degree of trauma, neglect and abuse that required intervention and removal for their own safety and well-being,” explained Veritas House CEO, Jody Pearce. “Veritas House Foster Carers in Bathurst provide a secure, safe and supportive home environment to these children and young people, but there is no doubt that Christmas can still be a tough time.

“We are hoping Bathurst residents and businesses will assist us to bring some joy into the lives of these special children this Christmas by donating a gift at the Christmas Picnic in the Parade event, so that we can make our annual Christmas Party a special day the children and our carers will truly remember.”

Anyone unable to attend the Christmas Picnic in the Parade event can drop off donations at the Veritas House offices at 106-108 Russell Street Bathurst.

Veritas House is a not-for-profit organisation that was established in Bathurst more than 30 years ago and has grown to become one of the largest providers of foster care and youth homelessness services in the region, supporting more than 300 children and young people each year.

Veritas House Foster Carers open their homes and hearts and assist children and young people in foster care by providing homes with nurturing environments, that allows these children and young people to feel comfortable and supported so they can grow and develop in a happy and healthy way.