Gift Giving Appeal Reaches New High
9 January 2014 at 9:01 am
One of Australia’s largest gift giving appeals has set a new record with 470,658 gifts collected for people in need in the run up to Christmas.
Organisers of the 2013 Salvos Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal say a last minute surge of donations lifted the Appeal from just 207,982 gifts at December 18 to ensure a record breaking finish.
The 2013 Appeal which launched on November 11 beat last year’s total by 27,336 gifts, a 6 per cent increase.
The Salvation Army distributed these gifts in the lead up to Christmas.
New South Wales led the country with total 110,727 gifts donated. Victoria was a close second with 95,798 gifts.
Kmart Managing Director Guy Russo praised support of the Appeal this year saying the Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal made Christmas time a little brighter for those in need.
“Our amazing result this year solidifies Kmart’s continued support of communities and we are so pleased Australians have joined us in lending a hand. There are some amazing stories of young people through to adults who have contributed to the Appeal,” Russo said.
Dr Bruce Redman of the Salvation Army says gifts donated to the Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal mean so much to thousands of people who are doing it tough at this time of year.
“Corporate donors defied a tough economic climate and increased their participation in the Appeal by 624 per cent, with 181 organisations running their own Appeal or donating funds,” Dr Redman said.
“Monetary donations to the Appeal via donations at the register and coin collection boxes in stores are still being tallied.”
The Salvation Army says it assisted three times more people in December compared to any other month.
The Salvation Army currently operates more than 1000 social welfare programs in Australia.
Core areas of work are: Homelessness, families facing crisis, domestic violence, addiction recovery and youth support.
