With Christmas right around the corner, The Salvation Army and Newcastle Permanent are calling on the community to spread some extra holiday cheer by donating a gift to the Salvos for their annual Christmas Toy Drive Appeal.
Salvation Army volunteer, Tracey Richards, knows firsthand the impact the toy drive can have on a family at Christmas, having first come across the Salvos at a time she was doing it tough herself.
“I came from homelessness and domestic violence. I was on the pension and wasn’t fit to work and the Salvos were amazing, helping with my daughter,” she said.
“The quality of presents in the Toy Drive are amazing, it was such a massive help.
“My daughter, who was 11 when we first started going to the Salvos, didn’t even know we were doing it tough because of the help we were receiving, the love and everything that goes with the gift.
“It was always special for her each Christmas.”
Through the help of The Salvation Army, Richards was able to find a home for herself and her daughter, and was determined to give back.
“For the Toy Drive, I will be helping with the toys, wrapping presents with my daughter.
“Now she’s 20 and she’ll be helping kids who were in the same predicament she was.
“I’m so grateful and thankful. Forever I will volunteer and help – whatever I can do,” Richards said.
Auxiliary Lieutenant Bernie Muendel acknowledged that while Christmas was often referred to as the most wonderful time of the year, for families struggling this might not be the case without the help of The Salvation Army.
“This year, thousands of children in NSW could wake up on Christmas morning without a present to open,” he said.
“Through the generosity of Newcastle Permanent and the community, we can help put a few more smiles on faces at this special time of year.
“Donations can come in a variety of forms.
“Many children in need are teenagers, so we encourage the community to consider donating gift cards and other suitable gifts for older children.
“If you are able, please add a Salvos Toy Drive gift to your Christmas shopping list and drop it in to a Newcastle Permanent branch to help bring a smile to a young person’s face this Christmas.”
Gifts for the Toy Drive should be new and unwrapped. Ideas include vouchers, games, beauty products, fashion accessories, toys, clothing, books, and sporting equipment.
Newcastle Permanent’s Chief Technology Officer, Jodi Stapleton, said the organisation was deeply proud of its 34-year tradition to support the Salvation Army Christmas Toy Drive Appeal.
“The Salvos are expecting to donate over thousands of gifts this year and our people will be volunteering to help the Salvos sort and distribute these gifts,” she said.
“Newcastle Permanent’s partnership with the Salvos allows us to band together as an organisation to help bring some Christmas magic to families who this year in particular, may be doing it tough.”
Donations can be made at any Newcastle Permanent branch from Monday, November 14 until Friday, December 16.
Source:
Media release, Nov 18
Newcastle Permanent