Christmas Care Box
About us:
In 2018, we started Christmas Care Box - With the aim of giving back to Kiwi kids in need who don’t get to celebrate Christmas as we all know it. There are over 85,000 children living in severe poverty in New Zealand, and we can’t let that slide.
Our little team, Abbie, Hannah and Jess (me), put together 240 ‘You are loved’ Christmas Care Boxes in 2018. These boxes went to children (aged 5-18) and their families at the Auckland City Mission, children suffering from severe illnesses such as cancer, in Waitakere hospital, and new-born babies to help their mothers and fathers provide them with the essentials they need.
We were overwhelmed with the support in 2018, and were able to put together amazing boxes filled a selection of the following items:
· A soft toy
· Drink bottle
· Non-perishable foods (such as rice, muesli, snack bars and some Christmas treats)
· School note books, colouring in pencils, stickers
· Shampoo and conditioner
· Toothbrush and toothpaste
· Socks
· Female hygiene products and a toilet bag
· Hand soap and body wash
· Laminated cards with messages telling them how loved and special they are.
This was all made possible through generous product donations, and a give-a-little page which raised almost $5,000 by our community.
Our 2019 Mission:
We want to reach farther and wider in the hope of bringing happiness to more Kiwi children.
This year, we are partnering with registered charity, The Breakfast Club - https://lnkd.in/gz5AxJa This charity was founded by ex-NZ Police Detective Sargeant, Steve Farrelly (an amazing man who dedicates his days to help underprivileged Kiwis). During the week they provide Kiwi children in need with breakfast all year round. For Christmas, they host a Banquet for 200 families, identified by social workers from different schools across East and South Auckland (over 1000 children) who don't get the opportunity to celebrate Christmas. The Banquet is held at Glenn Innes school on the 21st of December, and Christmas Care Box will be there to hand out our care boxes to kids, mums and bubs attending.
This banquet provides these families with the opportunity to experience real Christmas joy. The day starts with the families getting to go around the ‘market’ and pick food items for the next two weeks, the children will then get to come to Christmas Care Box and pick up their box of goodies from us. They have other fun activities such as a bouncy castle, family games, face painting for the children to enjoy. They also have a doctor on sight to provide access for the families to get check-ups, and support for new mums who may be struggling.
The families selected by social workers are identified as those who are in highest need of this support – Christmas time is one of the most difficult times of year for families, and we want to help ease the financial pressure and show these children they are loved.
Here’s a bit of info from last year’s Christmas Banquet - https://breakfastclub.org.nz/christmas-store-2018/
We will be putting together approx. 350-450 boxes this year – For children ages 4-17 and young babies and their mothers.
Our boxes will be similar to the ones we put together last year, with items such as school stationary, socks, a hat, drink bottle, hygiene products (e.g. tooth brush, toothpaste, sanitary products for our teenage girls boxes), a mixture of healthy and yummy snacks, a toy, and inspirational support cards and posters telling the children how special and loved they are (that they can pop in their school books or on their bedroom walls). Our baby’s boxes will have a mixture of essential baby’s items such as creams, baby wash, nappies, bottles etc and some gifts for the mums such as soap, shampoo and conditioner, socks, hair brush etc. To put these together, we rely on product and monetary donations from our generous sponsors.
Please help us bring joy to 350+ Kiwi kids lives this Christmas.
Give a little link: https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/christmas-care-box-nz
If you would like to help in the form of product donations, please flick us an email - Christmascareboxnz@gmail.com or jess@ducksinarow.nz
