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For Salvos officer Karen, who leads The Salvation Army Eaglehawk Corps in Victoria, Christmas is an extension of the care she provides year-round. She goes wherever support is needed most — visiting farming communities and aged care homes while helping organise community carols and deliver food relief and Christmas gifts.

It was a simple question, "How was your Christmas?" but Salvation Army officer Karen noticed the moment of hesitation.

She was helping at a free post-Christmas food pop-up kiosk in late December, supporting another local community organisation while representing The Salvation Army. Standing at the door, Karen was greeting people as they arrived, ushering them through but making space for conversation.

"Actually," the man replied to Karen, looking down, "we didn't really have Christmas."

From that conversation, Karen invited the man and his family to come and see her at the local Salvos. Although it was a couple of days after Christmas, she was able to give them vouchers so they could enjoy a small but meaningful festive celebration.

"What really mattered was that he came," Karen says. "Now he wants to volunteer. That's what community is. If you open a door, people have the chance to step through."

Going where the community needs Christmas support

For Karen, based in regional Victoria, Christmas and her Salvation Army service are very much about going into the community to serve, often discovering deep needs through ordinary, incidental conversations.

“You can’t always expect people, especially farming communities and farmers, to come to you,” she says. “You have to go to them.”

Last Christmas took Karen into a small farming community, where the team had heard families were doing it tough, as well as to a local aged care service and more. Karen and her team made available the full range of Salvation Army Christmas support and services, plus helped with post-Christmas food distribution, run by another local organisation.

Wherever she has been appointed over the years, Karen embeds herself quickly into each community, not only through formal services but through relationships. 

“Every community I go to, I just jump straight in. I try to grasp as much information as I can so I can be a real local,” she says.

“In this community, I joined Rotary and I am a long-term Rotarian. I also joined the arts committee. I’m involved in Christmas carols and I’m on the Way of the Cross committee for Easter, representing The Salvation Army.

Serving from lived experience

A fifth-generation Salvation Army member born in England, Karen says, “My grandparents in England were officers (pastors and leaders), and my parents became officers in Australia. After a career in nursing, I became an officer as well.”

She says her own experiences have shaped the way she serves today.

Decades ago, as a single parent, Karen experienced homelessness after the breakdown of her first marriage — despite working full time.

“As a single parent, I know the experiences I’ve gone through help me in my role. The way I relate to people comes from that,” she says. “My first husband was a chronic alcoholic and a gambler — an illness.

I know what it’s like to have everything taken away from you, and I know what it’s like to be homeless with three young children.”

That lived experience has shaped how she approaches Christmas care in the community.

When asked to take food and gifts to a farming community that needed support just before Christmas, Karen says, “I spoke with local church leaders, asked questions and listened.”

What emerged were layered pressures, particularly those of grandparents caring for grandchildren amid rising costs and families carrying grief after tragedy.

Karen and her team of volunteers arrived with a trailer of toys, shoes and gifts — sourced quickly with help from other Salvation Army centres after she realised how much would be needed.

“Maryborough Salvos had toys left over so they packed up six really large cartons,” she says. “They filled the trailer. It was really helpful.”

Getting involved is a way of reaching people. It’s about being outward focused.”

Creating connections, believing in good

For Karen, Christmas has long been about creating family connections, with her own family but also beyond it, especially as her children have grown and moved and her own roles have taken her interstate.

Alone or with a team of volunteers, she says, “I’ve always put on Christmas meals, not just for people who are needy but people who are lonely. You shouldn’t have to spend Christmas on your own.”

That same approach led her to a local aged care centre.

“We had someone play the cornet, someone on the piano and someone else did a little timbrel display,” she says. “They loved it. And it’s not just the residents — it’s the staff too.”

That one-off Christmas visit then developed into a monthly service.

Faith and hope through Salvos Christmas services

Karen’s faith remains central to her service.

“Jesus to me is merciful,” she says. “He is my best friend. I’m always praising him and thanking him. I’ve found something that gives me eternity and I don’t want anyone to miss out on that.

But I don’t force it. I just try to open doors and show and share real love. I just pray it flows out into our community so others can experience it too.”

Inspired by Karen’s story? Believe in good for someone else this Christmas. Volunteer with the Salvos and help bring light, love, hope and community to people who need it most.

Christmas with the Salvos: Common questions