About 20 families approached the Bendigo cafe seeking help to celebrate the festive season over the course of four hours.

Crooked Kitchen owner Tara Stojic thanked the community for supporting the event.

All the left-over gifts and food goods will be donated to Bendigo Community Health Services.

BCHS media and communications director Rod Case said the organisation was grateful for Crooked Kitchen’s donation.

“We have adult clients who have told us they have never had a Christmas present,” he said.

“Thanks to the generosity of Crooked Kitchen and others, that will change this year.”

The City of Greater Bendigo and Victory Church are among other bodies supporting BCHS clients to enjoy the festive season.

“A lot of our clients find the going a bit tough at Christmas,” Mr Case said.

“The generosity of people like Crooked Kitchen, Victory Church and the City of Greater Bendigo staff helps make it better.” 

EARLIER: ABOUT 16 families approached Crooked Kitchen’s Christmas store within an hour of its opening on Saturday morning.

The one-day event aims to provide central Victorians in need with goods to enjoy the festive season, from gifts to the ingredients for a Christmas meal.

Tara Stojic, the owner of the Bendigo cafe, understood the need in the community to be great.

The agencies she was working with to deliver the initiative had told her there were more than 100 families seeking emergency assistance. 

“We know how tight money can be,” Ms Stojic said.

“If you’re in need of assistance this Christmas, please come down to us at Crooked Kitchen.”

The front windows of the Lyttleton Terrace store will be open until 2pm today.

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Ms Stojic and her team will be providing people with items to suit their needs from the many donations they have received.

The business received about $3000 worth of cash donations this year, and many items.

Ms Stojic thanked the community for its support and said any goods left over would be donated to Bendigo Community Health.

Bendigo agencies such as Haven; Home, Safe are expecting an increase in demand for help post-Christmas – a period when challenges such as financial stress and relationship breakdown can be most acute.