To be honest, what charities need most is cold hard cash. As the Salvation Army’s media spokesman Andrew Wilson pointed out, it’s a catch-22. As needs rise, donations fall because people don’t have the spare cash.
Some people prefer giving practical gifts rather than money, which can be a valuable lesson for children. It helps them understand that there are always people in need and fosters empathy.
Wilson said there are other things people can do to support charities. “There are local opportunities with corps nationwide to support with goods like food and Christmas-type festive treats or gifts for children and families. We ask for new gifts only as this is often the only gifts a child receives.
“Supporting the Family Stores with second-hand items to be sold also gives people shopping in our stores affordable choices for gifts at Christmas.”
If you’re giving presents, don’t just limit yourself to presents for primary-age children, although they’re good. Think of teenagers as well. They might appreciate gift cards to spend on themselves, or something like the latest reusable drink bottle, which are status symbols for some.
When it comes to donating food, you can take it direct to an organisation such as the City Mission. But typically the supermarkets, The Warehouse and Kmart have donation bins for either food or presents or both.
The Warehouse, for example is collecting new unwrapped gifts until December 17. Those presents will be donated to the Women’s Refuge. Or add $2 at the checkout for the Be The Joy initiative, with money going to The Kindness Collective, The Salvation Army, Variety and Women’s Refuge.
A Woolworths spokesman said the supermarket will donate $100,000 to the Salvation Army and customers can give at the checkout by rounding up their shopping. “We’ll also have trolleys in-store where shoppers can drop non-perishable food items and there are recommendations and displays in store with most wanted items,” he said.
Back in early October at an annual event, Woolworths staff members donated nearly 600 new and mostly unwrapped Christmas gifts for the Salvation Army. The supermarket also supports food rescue organisations, KidsCan, The Little Miracles Trust, the New Zealand Red Cross and others. It seems that the Salvation Army is the charity of the year, with the Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal supporting it as well with unwrapped, unused gifts and monetary donations. Kmart also runs a year-round Family Appeal supporting the charity.
Give a thought to organisations such as the SPCA, whose work goes through the roof at Christmas, but rarely benefits from seasonal fundraisers. Food rescue groups, smaller community trusts, regional women’s refuges and mental health support services often struggle to meet rising demand at this time.
Check in with local charities and ask what they need most. You can also help by spreading awareness of their needs. Even a small contribution of time or resources can make a big difference to those struggling over the holiday season.
Diana Clement is a freelance journalist who has written a column for the Herald since 2004. Before that, she was personal finance editor for the Sunday Business (now The Business) newspaper in London.
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