How the Lebanese diaspora is turning Christmas into action

As many prepare to celebrate Christmas with family and food, three Lebanese-founded charities in Sydney are delivering hope to thousands of vulnerable people from struggling families and hospitalised babies in Sydney to forgotten children and the elderly in crisis-hit Lebanon.

This Christmas alone, more than 2000 hampers will be distributed across Sydney, tens of thousands of dollars raised for food and medicine overseas, and festive celebrations organised for children with disabilities who are often left behind.

Behind the efforts are three founders driven by a shared belief that giving back is not optional, it is a responsibility.

From a basement project to thousands of Christmas hampers

When Bridget Elias launched the Glimpse of Heaven Project in 2014, she was still in high school, quietly collecting donations in her parents’ basement after a difficult year.

Eleven years later, the Lebanese Australian founder is still leading the project now delivering thousands of Christmases hampers each year to Sydney’s homeless, struggling families and, more recently, babies in neonatal intensive care.

“The struggling families we support often include those who are refugees, single parent families, families suffering forms of bereavement, dealing with unemployment or financial instability, or sadly escaping domestic violence,” Mrs Elias said.

“Every human deserves to live with dignity and be able to access food resources.”

From assembling 400 hampers in its first year to now delivering more than 2000 each Christmas, Mrs Elias says the project’s growth has been driven by a deeper sense of service.

“I believe the greatest act you can do for another, is to be a glimpse of God’s goodness and kindness,” she said.

“Every day I ask myself, how can I serve where I am? How can I use my one life, and use it well? Service is leadership.

“Do not be afraid to step out of your comfort zones and lead.”

Bringing joy to Lebanon’s most forgotten children

GAYA (Giving Aid to Young Angels) was founded by Miss Lebanon runner-up 2024 Gaelle Balian after witnessing how quickly vulnerable children were overlooked amid Lebanon’s ongoing crisis.

What began as emergency aid evolved into a focused mission centred on babies, children and people with disabilities groups she says are often forgotten when survival becomes the priority.

Now operating across Lebanon through partnerships with NGOs including SESOBEL, GAYA has shifted from crisis response to sustained care.

This Christmas, Ms Balian who lives between Sydney, Dubai and Lebanon will return to her homeland to host a festive celebration for children and adults with disabilities, complete with Santa Claus, music, dancing, face painting and games.

“At the beginning, my focus was on providing food and shelter to families who had suddenly lost everything,” she said.

“As I spent time among the people, I started noticing something that deeply stayed with me.”

“Sometimes it wasn’t the aid itself, but the fact that someone showed up for them. Even the smallest acts of giving can make a real difference.”

In Lebanon today, people with disabilities are among the most vulnerable, especially during times of economic and social crisis.

“Access to basic care, therapy, education, and support has become increasingly difficult, and families are often left to navigate these challenges on their own. Supporting children and adults with disabilities right now isn’t just important it’s necessary.”

A mission born from tragedy

When the Beirut port explosion ripped through the city in 2020, George Boutros watched in shock as friends, family and colleagues sent frantic messages about the devastation.

Within hours, he mobilised cousins, friends and volunteers, raising more than $20,000 in just one week.

That first shipment a 27.5-tonne container of food, medicine and essential supplies was delivered to the Lebanese Maronite Order in Ghazir, marking the beginning of the Sydney to Lebanon Food Aid Appeal.

Today, the charity supports elderly people, displaced families and vulnerable children across Lebanon, partnering with more than 20 organisations from Beirut to the north and south.

This Christmas alone, it has raised more than $30,000, coordinating bulk food, medicines and hygiene kits across multiple organisations.

“When we saw the blast on TV, we were shocked at the magnitude of the impact and how many lives it would have affected,” Mr Boutros said.

“After a while, we started receiving calls for help from all across Lebanon, orphanages, hospitals, nursing homes, Churches and monasteries seeking food and medicines.”

For the Lebanese diaspora, he says, supporting home is a moral obligation.

“Knowing our charity amongst so many great charities helping Lebanon combined makes a difference is what keeps us motivated and driven to continue our mission in Lebanon,” he said.

“The poor, underprivileged, and homeless in Lebanon need us, they need hot meals daily, they need ongoing medicines and most importantly they need hope.”