Redlanders in need will get a leg-up this festive season with Mayor Karen Williams today launching the 2015 Mayor’s Christmas appeal.

Mayor Williams said the initiative would ensure those in need receive the best gift of all this Christmas – Redlands’ strong community spirit.

“Christmas is a time for celebration, but unfortunately there are those in our community who are doing it tough and this appeal is the perfect way to help them out and show just how strong the Redlands’ Christmas spirit is,” she said.

“To make a donation all you have to do is throw a few extra non-perishable food items or toiletries in the trolley next time you do your shopping, and drop them unwrapped into a Redland City Council Library or Customer Service Centre.

“I would also encourage local businesses to get involved by rallying the troops and collecting items.”

Cr Williams said the items would be donated to the Redlands Community Centre, Salvation Army and Champions Church; who do great work in supporting the community.

“The Redlands is a beautiful city, so it is sometimes easy to forget that there are those in the community who do it tough at Christmas and need some help,” she said.

“This includes more than 1000 people in our city who fall under the ‘disadvantaged’ socio-economic group.

“The Redlands is also not immune to domestic violence with local Courts accounting for almost 4 per cent of Queensland’s domestic violence orders – more than other areas of comparable size such as Caboolture and Toowoomba.

“These social problems don’t stop over Christmas, in fact with financial pressures they often increase, so it is important that as a community we all do our bit to help a fellow Redlander.”

To ensure your gifts are received in time for Christmas, please drop them off to Council Customer Service Centre’s at Capalaba and Cleveland or libraries at Cleveland, Capalaba or Victoria Point before 4.30pm Thursday 17 December.