Business Helping Hands was established in 2005 and with the assistance
and contribution of Parramatta based businesses and their employees, has
enabled the Chamber to provide donations of food and beverages and volunteers
for various activities, such as the Christmas BBQ Lunch for the homeless held
each year at the Parramatta Mission and now has been extended to cover all the
Chamber’s charitable activities
On Thursday 11th December 2008
30 members of the Parramatta Chamber of Commerce served steaks, sausages and
salad – an Aussie Christmas barbeque for the homeless at Parramatta Mission’s
Meals Plus, while our very talented Executive Assistant, Oksana Wasylyk,
entertained them with traditional and some not so traditional Christmas carols
ably assisted by some of our guests!
President Roman Dechnicz suggested that
instead of treating ourselves to a Christmas feast why don’t we feed those that
are more in need and so “Business Helping Hands Aussie Christmas BBQ” was born.
Chamber members were very generous again
this year donating time, cash and food for the barbeque.
Thank you to Mark Thompson,
Professional Insurance Brokers for providing the steaks and sausages, and other
members including, Cumberland Industries; The Meat & Wine & Co, Fast
Food Co, Bidvest Food Service; Gloria Jeans (George St); Knysh & Assoc;
Crowne Plaza Parramatta; Discover Parramatta; Robyn Atkins; Vegemasters; The
Sebel Parramatta; Parramatta Leagues Club; Wenty Leagues Club; Richardson And
Wrench Parramatta and Senator Marise Payne who provided salads, bread rolls,
desserts, soft drinks and other items that ensured that we had plenty of food
to feed the 150 needy people and spread lots of Christmas cheer!
Also thank you to the many Chamber Members,
Vanessa Cullen Forward Thinking Design; Stella Tsarpalas Suncorp; Richardson
& Wrench; Cr Andrew Bide and Cr John Chedid Parramatta Council; The Teams
from ParraSIP, Shell, Cumberland Industries, The Sebel Parramatta, De Vreis
Tayeh and Norwest Recruitment who volunteered their time to assist in cooking,
service, cleaning up and just generally ensuring that everyone had a great day
Michael Wright
Manager, Homeless Services.
Uniting Church in Australia.
“Thanks so much for your
support. The BBQ always gives clients and workers a lift as the days telescope
towards Christmas Day.
The Chamber’s support is a
wonderful asset for Parramatta Mission and Meals Plus to have.”
