Not everyone will be getting up on Christmas morning ready to enjoy a day of festive fun with family and friends.
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Some people don't even have anywhere to live and are just not looking forward to Christmas.
This is where Safe Shelter Shoalhaven, with support from the community, comes in.
Sade Goldstein, from the shelter, said homeless people have nothing to look forward to on Christmas day, which they want to change.
"Most homeless people don't have a family they can go to and sometimes with the families they do have the relationships are strained for whatever reason," she said.
Sade said the aim of the appeal was to help give homeless people something to look forward to over Christmas.
The shelter, located in Kinghorne Street across from the Nowra Police Station, last year hosted what was a marvellous Christmas dinner and Sade said the gathering was wonderful.
"It was really good and around 40 to 50 people were here (at the shelter) on the day," she said.
The shelter team is finalising its plans for Christmas day this year and the more funds they have the better it will be.
The function could be at the beach, Nowra Showground, at the shelter or elsewhere.
"It's just a matter of working at what will be the best," Sade said.
The shelter, run by volunteers from Bomaderry based Salt Ministries, has just started a Christmas appeal and they hope to raise $20 000. Donations great or small are all appreciated.
"We can point the money to wherever we need it," she said.
Donations could be used to buy people a present to open on Christmas day.
The money could even be used for simple but important things like freshening up the shelter's bed linen.
People can also donate Christmas treats like chips, lollies, soft drinks, tin hams and other nice festive items.
To make a donation head to Safe Shelter Shoalhaven's Facebook page or call 4426 6117.
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Sade suggests people specify where they would like their donation to go - either to the shelter or Salt's general Christmas hamper appeal.
"People, even to help us keep going with the normal meals at the shelter, can donate frozen meals and pizzas from supermarkets which helps stock our freezer up," Sade said.
Supportive businesses Shoalhaven Recycling and the Huskisson Bakery donates lots of food to the shelter, but more is always needed.
"At the moment food comes in and it goes out," Sade said.
As normal the shelter, which is run seven-day a week, is full of guests.
Volunteers are always needed and the shelter recently underwent a restructure to make volunteering easier.
About the shelter
Safe Shelter Shoalhaven was established with more than 22 local churches coming together to help those less fortunate in our community and importantly providing them with shelter over the winter period.
After a lot of discussions, lobbying and hard work by a dedicated band of volunteers the Shoalhaven Safe Shelter opened in its new permanent location.
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The former Neighbourhood Centre, owned by Shoalhaven City Council, in Kinghorne Street, opposite the Nowra Police Station was converted into the shelter.
The new centre can cater for 12 people, including separate facilities available for men and women. There is also a family's area which can cater for up to a family of five.
Credit must also be paid to the Shoalhaven Homeless Hub, under the guidance of Kerri Snowden and Julie Bugden, who originally brought this growing, ongoing issue to the community's attention.
