Target UnitingCare Christmas Appeal is launched in all Target stores in early November each year and aims to make Christmas more special for the thousands of Australians who, for various reasons, are unable to celebrate Christmas. Donate an UNWRAPPED present under the Christmas Tree at your local Target store.
UnitingCare Australia is one of the largest providers of community services in Australia, providing services to more than 2 million Australians each year. They provide services to older Australians, children, young people and families, Indigenous Australians, people with disabilities, the poor and disadvantaged, people from culturally diverse backgrounds and older Australians in urban, rural and remote communities.
The Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal helps everyone. They receive a lot of gifts for children, but we also distribute gifts to anyone that might be having a hard time. Thanks to their Appeal partner, The Salvation Army, everyone including adults and the elderly are assisted by the Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal.
With your gifts in tow, visit your local Kmart store and take a tag from the Wishing Tree. Using one end of the tag, indicate the age group and gender of who you think might like to receive your gift then place it under the Wishing Tree. Don’t forget to take the other half of the tag home to hang on your tree!
Alternatively, you can leave your gift at the express drop off point located at the front of the store. A Salvation Army representative will then collect the gifts from Kmart stores and oversee their distribution to those in need.
Gifts do not need to be purchased at Kmart, nor do they need to be wrapped. The Appeal is unable to accept used or second-hand gifts.
All around Victoria, there are children and families affected by violence and abuse, who really need our help this Christmas. Children like six year old Ben, who together with his mum and sister, have been living in their car to escape family violence. Ben is worried that Santa won’t know where to find them this year.
Buy a gift online and help make Christmas a magical time for children and families in need across Victoria. You can purchase gifts such as books, sporting equipment, train sets, gift cards, household items and Christmas hampers for those who need it most.
Asylum Seeker Refuge Centre Festive Food Drive
Now's the time to start your Festive Food Drive!
As we head into the Festive season this year our minds go to celebrations and that nearly always involve food! It’s food that brings us together as families, as friends and as communities. This year our Foodbank is collecting the Twelve Foods of Christmas and we would love your support by running a Festive Food Drive at work, at school, at your church, in your local street. The twelve most wanted food/grocery items are Basmati rice, tins of fish in oil, ceareal, biscuits, deoderant, shaving cream, razors, wash-up liquid, gift cards, shampoo, honey and tahini
RSPCA Guardian Angel
Across November and December, almost 5,000 animals will sleep in a RSPCA Victoria shelter. That’s why they have launched the Guardian Angel appeal. It’s the RSPCA’s national appeal to make sure that every animal in shelters across the country has someone watching over them this Christmas. Someone to help provide them with the care they so desperately need until they can find their forever home.
You might not be able to give every animal a home, but you can be their Guardian Angel.
With your kind gift – you’ll become a Guardian Angel for a shelter animal in need this Christmas.
Defence welcomes all expressions of public support for our people deployed on operations overseas. Send off a Christmas care package today to an Australian soldier.
The RSL Australian Forces Overseas Fund prepares care packages that are dispatched twice yearly to Defence personnel deployed on operations. These care packs contain various non-perishable items, a letter of appreciation on behalf of all Australians and RSL Membership contact details. Importantly, these packs are professionally prepared and meet all Defence and host nation transport and import requirements. Donations to the RSL Australian Forces Overseas Fund can be made online. Donations over $2 are tax deductible and every donation is individually acknowledged by the RSL.
For members of the public who still wish to send general care parcels to deployed personnel over the Christmas 2017 period, the Australian Forces Post Office address below will be open from Wednesday 14th November - Friday 30 November 2018. Parcels are FREE to post as long as they're under 2kg and should be packaged within a 'BX2' sized box from Australia Post which cost $2.40.
Address is:
An Australian Defence Member
AFPO 60
Australian Defence Force NSW 2890
In order to ensure an equitable distribution of parcels it is requested that donations are gender-neutral, and addressed to 'An Australian Defence Member', not to a specific job title, trade or unit member.
Suggestions of what you might like to include:
Toiletries
o Deodorant (non aerosol)
o Shaving cream (non aerosol)
o Small bottle of talcum powder
o Disposable razors
o Shower Gel
o Lip Balm
Food
o Instant Noodles, Small boxed Christmas pudding/cake (these are $2 in Coles/Woolworths
o Biscuits (not chocolate biscuits)
o Lollies
o Small tinned consumables
o Non-perishable foods - vegemite (Oze-mite), nice jam
Other ideas
o Magazines – from Vogue to Men’s Health
o Puzzle books
o DVDs
o Socks
o Letters of support
o Stamped, self addressed envelopes – this way soldiers can thank you for the donation
What not to include
• Pornographic material
• Alcoholic beverages
• Clothing (except socks)
• Pork products
• Cigarettes
• Chocolate (if sending to warm climates)
Santa's Post Box and Giving Box
Australia Post is encouraging young Australians to write to Santa this Christmas.
You'll find the Santa's letter box and the Spirit of Giving box just outside the Australia Post GPO, as well as a second letter box outside The District in Docklands.
Send your letters, drawings and wish lists nice and early to Santa, North Pole, 9999. Letters received with a stamp on the envelope, and with names and return addresses clearly marked on the back, will receive a reply postcard from Santa.
Children can also pick up a Christmas postcard and write to Santa on the spot at most Post Offices.
To give a gift to someone less fortunate this Christmas, place it in the Australia Post Spirit of Giving box with a tag referencing the age appropriateness of the gift.
