REDLANDS Tigers Cricket Club have dug deep for a childcare centre and drought-affected communities using money donated by players, supporters and staff.
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About $3000 was raised during the club's Christmas appeal, allowing food and toys to be bought from local businesses and donated to the less fortunate over the festive season.
This year the club hand delivered gifts to Ruby and Ollie's All Abilities Childcare and donated $1000 to the Mooch and Wombat Dustillery, which supports children in drought and bushfire affected areas.
They also purchased 20 hampers from IGA Cleveland for the Drought Angels Christmas appeal.
Redlands Tigers stalwart Matthew Williamson said the club's Christmas appeal was about giving back to the community.
"It was a tradition that was started up a long time ago by players that are no longer at the club and a former coach," he said.
"The club wanted to give back to the community, be seen and engage the younger players.
"Being one of the longest serving players, I have taken it on as the club has asked me to and kept the tradition alive."
Williamson said the players used to give presents to sick kids in hospital but had since ventured out to other places.
"One thing we try to keep as a tradition is involving Redlands businesses," he said.
"Obviously the hampers that we bought for the drought-affected families aren't going to be in the Redlands but we made sure we bought them locally.
"Ruby and Ollie's childcare is an organisation in the Redlands, so again it is about putting back into the community and involving local businesses.
"We thought the Mooch and Wombat Dustillery was another very good cause and something we could invest in."
Williamson said the club had visited Ruby and Ollie's childcare for the last few years but the money raised in 2019 allowed them to branch out.
"We try and find places in the Redlands that might need assistance or that we can help out," he said.
"We try and make sure the kids at Ruby and Ollie's childcare don't miss out."
Williamson said the donation to the Drought Angels Christmas appeal and the Mooch and Wombat Dustillery were important given Queensland's ongoing bushfire crisis.
Brisbane Heat and Redlands Tigers player Jimmy Peirson showed his support for the Christmas appeal in the Big Bash by sticking a Mooch and Wombat label to his bat against Sydney Thunder.
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