The Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal assists a wide range of New Zealanders from children through to adults and the elderly and this year we're hoping to collect 35,000 gifts for our charity partner The Salvation Army.
This is the Appeal's 17th year in New Zealand and over a quarter of a million have been donated to families doing it tough.
Salvation Army representatives collect the donated gifts from Kmart stores on a regular basis and oversee their distribution to people in need. Cash contributions are converted into Kmart gift cards and distributed by The Salvation Army to recipients, allowing them to choose their own Christmas gift.
The Salvation Army then invites recipients to choose gifts for their family at Christmas from a local distribution centre. These centres are set up like a shop allowing recipients to choose gifts with dignity during what can be a difficult time. For some families Kmart Wishing Tree gifts may be the only gifts they’ll receive this Christmas.