Agencies are well aware of the suffering that has been inflicted on many in the community this year due to the border restrictions and Covid crisis. Happiness House Queenstown manager Robyn Francis says they’re encouraging the rest of the community to be sensitive and kind to those who may be feeling isolated or sad in the lead-up to Christmas this year.

“Many people are stranded here and can’t get to family, or family can’t get to them,” she says. “Some people will not be looking forward to Christmas this year. They may have lost jobs and are needing weekly food parcels just to survive,” she says. “We’re seeing that right across the board in every socio-economic sector locally.”

“People have a lot of uncertainty and they’re already suffering from isolation with no choice about whether they can spend Christmas with family, or whether they have a job.”

She’s encouraging local residents to consider inviting people who are stranded away from family to join in their Christmas plans. “It will be extremely difficult for them this year,” says Robyn. “Even just drop some Christmas goodies over to them as many people have been separated from partners and loved ones since before the main March lockdown. They tend to put on a brave face and we don’t realise what’s sitting under the surface.”

In an incredibly kind, first Christmas Day interagency lunch for Queenstown, Robyn, Wakatipu Presbyterian Church’s Ian Guy, Salvation Army’s Andrew Wilson, Volunteer South and Kiwi Harvest are pitching in to throw a classy, free, sit down Christmas lunch for 130 on Christmas Day. “This is strictly by referral only and table placements will be allocated to each of the community help agencies to refer families or individuals,” says Robyn. “This is for people suffering hardship or who are isolated from family and don’t have others. It could be a single parent with small children struggling to make it on their own.”

Local businesses have been very supportive, she says. “We are hoping local Queenstown hotel chefs will give some of their time to help us to prepare the meats, vegetables and a delicious array of salads for the City Mission-style lunch at St Andrew’s Church in Stanley Street. Kiwi Harvest will be one of the suppliers using the food as part of its collection and drop-off from supermarket surpluses.

The menu’s likely to include Christmas ham, or roast lamb, and chicken with all the usual trimmings, with condiments, desserts and non-alcoholic bubbles. There’ll even be a musical quartet playing alongside the elaborate table settings where goodie bags, chocolates and a card will greet each guest.

Robyn, Ian and Andrew are lining up as the first volunteers, giving up their own Christmas Day time to help. They need 30 volunteers all up and if numbers fall short Volunteer South will supply more.

Volunteers at Baskets of Blessing, which supplies free frozen meals and gift baskets to those in need or suffering a tough time, have had a hugely busy time since lockdown and are expecting those numbers to climb even further close to Christmas. Operations co-ordinator Lee Nicolson says they were still sending out about 600 meals a week last month (November) and about 50 baskets go out a month. Last Christmas they turned out 200 gift baskets packed with pamper gifts, chocolates and nice surprises.

“We’re certainly seeing a lot in the community struggling with a lot more people recently losing jobs and still losing jobs each week across the spectrum,” says Lee.

Donations of gifts and food from local businesses and individuals had been incredibly generous but Lee says they desperately need more. “A lot of people are finding it tough so even if everybody in the community just gave a $10 gift, even just something from the Look Sharp or 2 Cheap shops, we would be incredibly grateful,” she says. Toys for kids under six, coloured pens and pencils, and gift items for men and teenage boys are in big demand. They also need staples like cereal, snack bars, tinned foods and pet food with so many struggling to put food on the table.

Krista Baker from Wakatipu Plunket says this year has been particularly tough for new mums delivering babies whose own mums can’t get to New Zealand to help and support them for a few months. “We have a lot of mums whose parents are overseas and so they’re often missing out on that vital grandparent support network that new mums need,” says Krista. “Dozens have been affected and there are new babies being born all the time so it can still be a tough time for new mums in the community,” she says. “We are here to help all parents, particularly those in these situations. They can drop in any day between 10am and 3pm for a play, a chat, or to get some extra support, such as around breastfeeding and mental health and wellness.” While mums weren’t able to meet each other at ante-natal classes during lockdown, these were held online, helping establish some local networks for new mums.

Lakes District Multicultural Society secretary Sunitha Karunakaran says many migrants stranded in the community are missing family and facing a heartbreaking Christmas on their own. “Many have lost their jobs and those who can’t get home won’t be able to afford much over Christmas,” she says. Sunitha is hoping that the real spirit of Christmas will prevail and that Wakatipu locals will open their hearts and homes to those who are lonely this festive season.