A Narre Warren couple have decked out their homes in Christmas decoration in a mission to “bring the community together”.
Paul Limbom and Jess Renwick-Veling, began decorating their house for the Christmas period back in Halloween, in a process that takes six weeks and thousands of dollars, according to Jess.
The house has been ornamented with colourful lights from the tip of the home’s rooftops to the car parked on the curb — as well as reindeers and festive trinkets adorned in the front yard.
And best of all, despite his busy schedule this month, Santa makes an appearance every night.
Since opening up on 1 December, Jess says they’ve had approximately 3000 visitors all up that have come to peruse at their hard work.
Over the years, she’s noticed that people in the community have become more isolated, and that this festive initiative aims to “bring everybody together”.
“Life has been so hard for everybody since Covid.
“We’ve had Covid, and then the rise in housing prices, the rise in just living costs that everybody is staying isolated.
“And this brings us all together.
“Doesn’t matter about race, doesn’t matter about religion, doesn’t matter about anything.
“It just brings everybody together and it puts smiles on people’s faces.
“And that’s why we do it.”
For the first few weeks, they were able to raise funds for Transit Soup Kitchen through food trucks that lined the street and while the food trucks are no longer available, Jess says they’re still encouraging those who can, to donate when they visit.
Jess says through this initiative, she hopes to “give back to the community”, after noticing an increase in those struggling with homelessness and food insecurity around Narre Warren.
“I’ve used transit and their services before, and they help so many people in the community,” said Jess.
“Because I also work at one of the shops on Webb street and I see the homeless people that are there, and each day or each week, It’s getting worse.”
“We’re doing it for the right reasons.
“We’re not trying to make money or anything, we’re just trying to support people.
“It’s time for all of us to come together again.”
Jess and Paul, invites the community to “take a moment” and come enjoy their decorations at 1 Somerset Court, Narre Warren South.
