Whanganui Christmas drives seek gifts and food for hundreds in need

Detailed summary

Hakeke St Community Centre and Library is running its annual Christmas Shoebox Project, providing families in need with children’s gifts. Last year it delivered gifts to 472…

Age Concern volunteer Clark Allen holds the collection bag for the organisation's Secret Santa Programme.

Whanganui’s charity Christmas drives are in full swing as the holiday season approaches and many households struggle with the cost of living.

Hakeke St Community Centre and Library is running its annual Christmas Shoebox Project, providing families in need with children’s gifts.

Last year it delivered gifts to 472 children but Hakeke St Community Centre board secretary Sheyannne Lile-Andrews expected this year’s list of families to be “a lot bigger”.

“Unfortunately, the need has so far looked like it’s going to be a lot higher,” she said.

People who want to donate can collect a box from the Community Centre at 65 Hakeke St, fill it with gifts and return it by December 4, or donate $50 for the centre to fill a box for them.

A collection point is also available at The Warehouse, Trafalgar Square.

“Some of our families that we have donated [to] have said that they weren’t going to do Christmas because they just couldn’t afford it,” Lile-Andrews said.

To bring the joy of Christmas and Santa to them was “amazing”, she said.

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