But after a desperate bid to sell her son’s Christmas gift just to afford lunch, the Warrnambool community has responded with an overwhelming spirit of generosity.

Ms Brill, 24, and her partner Tyler McCulloch, 27, moved from Tasmania two weeks ago with their four-year-old son Connor, hoping job prospects would provide a better life.

Their savings quickly ran dry while staying in motel accommodation and last week reached a low when there wasn’t enough money to buy food.

Turning to social media site Facebook, Ms Brill posted a photo of their Christmas present for Connor, asking for just $20 to help their cause.

“We had no money at all,” Ms Brill said.

“It was horrible and we did not want to do it at all. 

“The Facebook post wasn’t directly asking for help ... but it got so many comments and offers for help.

“We’re really overwhelmed with all the support we had.

“I was commenting back and talking to everybody for five hours straight. We did not expect it at all and it’s been really amazing of everybody.”

The offers flooded in, with donations of toys, food and clothes, as well as offers of friendship and invitations for Christmas lunch.

Best of all, the young family’s uncertainty of where it would spend Christmas was resolved, thanks to Bree Watson from Northeast Stockdale & Leggo, who made it her personal mission to find them a new home. 

“Salvo Connect has paid for the past three days at a motel,” Ms Brill said. “But we’re leaving tomorrow and had no idea where we would go or what we do until Bree got us a house. 

“That was the best news ever and the best Christmas present.

“There’s been so many offers of people wanting to buy and give us food and lots of people telling us about all the places we could go to for help.

“We had one seller drop off a few bags of groceries and another lady dropped off some toys and DVDs for Connor.

“We have made quite a few friends already out of all this.”

The move from Tasmania followed a tough time without many job opportunities for Mr McCulloch, who is an experienced dairy farmer.

The couple heard that Warrnambool was a “nice place to live” and made the shift without any friends or family in the region, Ms Brill said.

“We had never left Tassie before. This was our first time ever leaving. 

“We feel like we definitely made the right choice.

“With all the support we’ve had, it’s such an amazing place here. We cannot thank them enough.”

She said Mr McCulloch would continue looking for consistent work and Connor was looking forward to starting kindergarten in Warrnambool next year.

Another young mother, wishing to remain anonymous, contacted The Standard last week to express thanks to the Warrnambool and Portland communities for their great generosity in hard times.

“Due to financial problems leaving my partner, having a baby interstate the day before Christmas and numerous trips interstate that’s consumed all our spare money, I have received great support from people in Warrnambool and Portland,” she said. 

“I’d love to say we have a great caring, sharing community. 

“Without all the support received we would not have been having Christmas for my three young kids. Once again, thank you all who have helped.”