Wagga families doing it tough this year are set to experience Christmas to its fullest thanks to an annual community appeal.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The 31st Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal was launched by North Wagga Public School, The Salvation Army, Kmart and Wagga mayor Greg Conkey on Tuesday.
The initiative asks residents to donate gifts and necessities for families experiencing hardship this Christmas.
Lieutenant Kara Hartley from Wagga’s Salvation Army encouraged residents to help those less fortunate.
“What we do is we build relationships with community members and the gifts you donate helps us empower them,” she said.
“We’re also inviting all of our families taking part [in this appeal] to a Christmas dinner that they may not have otherwise have this year.”
Lieutenant Hartley thanked organisers and the community for their help, saying “all that you contribute will help us help them”.
“So thank you for your ongoing support,” she said.
What we do is we build relationships with community members and the gifts you donate helps us empower them.
- Lieutenant Kara Hartley, The Salvation Army
Virginia Auld, who has been appeal organiser at Kmart Wagga for 14 years, said they hoped to go beyond Christmas.
“We’re also thinking of things like school supplies, so if you can support the wishing tree, please do so,” Ms Auld said.
“It’s very important.”
Cr Conkey said the initiative was a special occasion.
“Wagga is doing it tough at the moment as you’re probably aware,” he said.
“The drought is having a really significant impact on this community so there’s a lot of people out there who will be doing it tough this year.
“Eight million gifts have been donated through this appeal [since it began in 1987].
“We’re expecting 400,000 gifts this year.”
Residents can donate in store or online at Kmart.
Read more
While you’re with us, did you know that you can now receive updates straight to your inbox each day at 6am from The Daily Advertiser? To make sure you’re up to date with all the Wagga news, sign up here.