This Christmas, for the first time, Warrawong dad Darren Malone will get to spend the entire day with his four-year-old daughter, Lilly-Grace, so he wanted to make it count.
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But with most of his family living interstate and many of his friends going away over the break, the day was shaping up to be a quiet and uneventful one.
"I didn't want us to sit home alone and do nothing for Christmas, especially with her being four," said Mr Malone, who shares custody of Lilly-Grace with his ex-partner.
"It would be good to see her with another family, (experiencing) Christmas traditions, playing with other kids and having fun."
When the answer came to him, Mr Malone - who runs the community Facebook group Illawarra Weather Warnings And Local Media Info - typed out a post on social media, added a cute photo of his daughter and hit the button to share it with his 10,000-plus followers.
"Adopt a family this Christmas Day," his post read.
"Lilly and I are looking for a family to hang out with for Christmas lunch or dinner. We want to experience the awesome Christmas family experience with joy and happiness. Not alone. Please adopt a family to make their Christmas an unforgettable one."
There were likes and supportive comments, but more importantly five genuine offers - "the more the merrier", "what's two more?", "more than welcome" - from people across the Illawarra prepared to make space at the table for them.
I don't think anyone should have to spend Christmas alone and if Darren felt strongly enough to share a public post asking for someone to 'adopt' himself and his daughter how could I just scroll past?
A few days later Mr Malone had an update for his followers: "I have found a family to adopt Lilly and I for Christmas Day in Bellambi ... I'm so happy and excited."
In the end, Mr Malone - who does not own a car - accepted an invitation from Bellambi mother Wendy Tummers, who had offered to pick them up and drop them home.
The father-daughter duo will join Ms Tummers and her eight-year-old son, Jordan, at her mum and dad's place. Siblings, nieces and nephews and their partners and cousins will add to the festive cheer.
"I don't think anyone should have to spend Christmas alone and if Darren felt strongly enough to share a public post asking for someone to 'adopt' himself and his daughter how could I just scroll past?" Ms Tummers said.
"I realise I'm extremely lucky that myself and my son have a wonderful family to celebrate the holidays with and if I can help someone else feel that happiness then my mum raised me right and hopefully I'm setting a great example for my son to follow."
Mr Malone admits to feeling a little apprehensive about the prospect of sitting down with strangers, however a few "back and forward" exchanges between the pair has put him at ease and they've even organised a play date ahead of December 25 so Lilly-Grace can get to know her "adopted family".
Mr Malone is hoping his Facebook post will inspire people experiencing loneliness to reach out and ask for company at Christmas and for those lucky enough to be surrounded by loved ones to share their day with others.
"There are families out there that would love to do what I'm doing, spend time with other families so they're not alone," Mr Malone said.
"And not just families, even people who have no children. You feel more alone on those days - missing the family traditions, sitting at the table with family and friends - and you just feel depressed.
"I didn't want Lilly to sit here and feel sad or depressed so this will be awesome for her."
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