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The Sun
Wednesday December 7, 2011
Bring joy to those less fortunate The annual Christmas Present Appeal begins
FOR THE CHILDREN: Open Home Foundation staff Christine Campbell, Anne Wilson and Karen Burns get into the festive spirit as their Christmas Present Appeal begins this week.
Story and photo by Celeste Lodewyk Christmas is only 18 days away but for some children, there won’t be gifts waiting for them under the Christmas tree. This is where the Open Home Foundation and the Sun Newspaper have teamed up to collect donations of gifts in the Christmas Present Appeal 2011. The Open Home Foundation is a community organisation working in the care and protection of families and children at risk, including foster, respite and long term care of these children. Through this Appeal, children who are less fortunate in Marlborough will have a gift of their own through the generosity of the community. Open Home Foundation practice manager Anne Wilson says last year’s appeal was “overwhelming”, with enough gifts to give to every child and family. “One very special moment for us was being able to help a stressed out family with six children who, due to family circumstances, had to put Christmas on the back burner. “We were able to give them gifts which were perfectly matched to their ages which changed their Christmas and made it special,” Anne says. The Foundation works with 35 foster families and around 100 children aged from birth through to
17 years. Receiving gifts for boys, girls and especially teenagers is greatly appreciated. Gifts can include deodorants, body creams, shampoo and conditioner sets, hair accessories, nail polish or even clothes for teenagers. For younger children board games, trucks, dolls, activity books, colouring pens, playdough and reading books are great ideas also. “Last year we also had some presents donated for the children’s parents like chocolates, dinner sets and little gift packs. “Movie passes are also a fantastic present to give teenagers,” Anne says. People are encouraged to donate ‘unwrapped’ and new (not second hand) gifts so they can be sorted out and later wrapped by a group of volunteers. Simply bring in the donations to the Sun office at 72 High Street in Blenheim. The gifts will be collected by the Open Home Foundation on Monday afternoon on December 19 and delivered to the children in the week prior to Christmas. For any enquiries contact Celeste at the Sun Newspaper. Bring a little Christmas cheer into the lives of children less fortunate than ourselves and support the Christmas Present Appeal.