Businesses and their staff looking for a meaningful Christmas initiative are being encouraged to provide gifts for men, women and children who will spend Christmas in a local refuge fleeing domestic violence.
Domestic violence support charity, Friends With Dignity, has launched its annual Newcastle Christmas Toy Drive with a range of options to make it easy for workplaces to donate gifts.
Staff donated gifts can be taken to Storage King, 54A Clyde St, Hamilton North or Friends With Dignity volunteers can pick them up from a workplace.
Individuals can also donate via mycause and Friends With Dignity will purchase gifts that align with the people staying in local refuges.
Friends With Dignity CEO, Manuela Whitford said Christmas is meant to be a time of joy and hope but many fleeing domestic violence won’t be spending Christmas in their home.
The donated gifts will go to people staying in or being supported by local refuges such as Carrie’s Place, Jenny’s Place, Nova, and other crisis accommodation centres.
Manuela said it is mostly women and their children in need of the Christmas support.
“We are currently in the 16 Days of Activism to End Violence Against Women, which is a fitting time to also think about helping those who have experienced violence,” Manuela said.
“Your generous donation will make a Christmas a little brighter for someone going through a really difficult and traumatic time.
“Donating via mycause is a simple way to help and ensures we can purchase gifts for teenagers who often miss out because people mostly, generously, donate toys for little children.”
The team from Allianz’s Charlestown Business Centre will be donating to the toy drive for a second year running.
Team spokesperson, Andi Gilmore said the local Allianz team is proud to once again be able to help Friends with Dignity in the annual Toy Drive.
“Newcastle is a vibrant and important part of the Allianz community and our Charlestown Business Centre has always been eager to provide support where it can, especially around the holiday season,” Andi said.
“It is our hope we can bring a little extra Christmas cheer to those children and families in our local community who might be at risk or experiencing vulnerability,” she said.
Workplaces are encouraged to drop donations at Storage King by December 10.
Workplace pick-ups are available between December 13 and 17. To arrange a pickup, email community@friendswithdignity.org.au.
Donations are being sought for kids and adults. Gifts should be new and unwrapped but donations of wrapping paper, gift bags and tape are appreciated.
Friends With Dignity has been running its Toy Drive for six years. Last year it was able to donate more than 4,000 toys and gifts to refuges in the Hunter, South East Queensland, and Perth.
IMAGE | Friends With Dignity encourage local donations to their Toy Drive to support families in need this Christmas.
