Kaiden Magann is only seven but he is already a Leeton legend, working hard to make Christmas festive for locals by recycling containers at Return and Earn.

With the support of family and friends, Kaiden raised $1,600 this year to help fund the annual Leeton Community Christmas Lunch.

The popular Lunch, which began in 2010, can attract up to 100 people who are lonely or have no family or friends nearby to share a Christmas meal with.

Leeton Community Christmas Lunch Committee chair Fran Artese said Kaiden is an inspiration who devotes a weekend once a month to collecting and recycling cans.

“We say that Kaiden is our no 1 Committee person. He has done an incredible job this year, alongside his Nan and his Dad,” she said.

“Leeton is a very generous town - the event is so much more than lunch now.

“We have a few fundraisers and people also send us donations. 

“We have so many volunteers that turn up on Christmas Day to help set up the hall, decorate, wrap gifts, serve food and clean up.”

Kaiden’s nan, Vicki Magann, said Kaiden first got involved in the fundraising committee in 2024.

She is very proud of her grandson’s commitment and kindness in thinking of others.

“I wanted to help Kaiden, who was five at that time, understand the concept of gratitude and be thankful for what he has and to be willing to help others,” she said.

“The ongoing support the Leeton Community Christmas Lunch committee provides across our community, to both the young and the elderly, is so visible even a young child could see the difference his efforts make.
“When we started Return and Earn recycling in mid-2024, we reached out to family and friends and we raised $400.

“This year, more people made contact to donate their cans and bottles, as well as local businesses Coprice, the Yanco Hotel and The Peddlers Café.

“Kaiden, his Dad and I drive around town with the trailer to collect the cans and bottles and then we help Kaiden feed them into the Return and Earn machine.”

The money raised by Kaiden’s Return and Earn recycling is used to help buy supplies for the lunch, including food and gifts.

“He is a little legend,” said Fran proudly.

Kaiden will attend the lunch on Christmas Day to help out where he can and is also keen to continue Returning and Earning for the Leeton Christmas Lunch committee next year.

• Businesses who support the lunch include Robinson’s Transport, Amato’s Real Estate, The Golden Apple IGA, The Golden Chicken, St Joseph’s Primary School, the Griffith Expatriates Car Club, Antoinette’s Showcase Jewellers, Lanhams Jewellers, Sportspower Leeton, Leeton Trophy and Gift shop, Leeton Discount Chemist, The Bush Chemist Leeton, Mal Ward and Great Aussie BBQ, St Francis College, Lisa Schmetzer and Leeton High School, the Coogee Bay Hotel and Merlin Entertainment.