By PSS | Posted: Tuesday February 20, 2018
The number of children thinking of those less fortunate than themselves over Christmas has warmed the hearts of Family Works staff.
Every year a large number of individuals, businesses and community groups and organisations make donations to Family Works to support Southland families in need. From toys and gifts, to non-perishable food items and other items for food parcels, Family Works staff are consistently humbled by the generosity in the south.
Christmas 2017 proved no different, and Family Works Programme Administrator Carol Brown said there was a noticeable increase in children giving to other children.
“We saw a lot more parents bringing children in to donate items,” she said.
“As a child and family service, it was just lovely to see children growing up with those values and thinking about other people and children.”
Hundreds of gifts were donated through the H&J Smith Christmas Tree Appeal, where shoppers purchased gifts for children, and gifts were also placed under Christmas trees at Presbyterian Support Southland (PSS) Central Office and at ILT Stadium Southland.
Donations of non-perishable food items were very well received, as were financial donations that supported purchasing items required for food parcels.
Along with the gifts, 50 food parcels were delivered to Southland families in need.
PSS receives support throughout the year, which is very much appreciated, and over the Christmas period it seems to rise to another level of generosity; helping to make Christmas a much happier time for plenty of Southland families.
THANK YOU
PSS would like to thank everyone who made contributions of gifts, food or financial assistance including: H&J Smith, Craig’s Poultry, EBOS, Kaans, Aselo, Goodman Fielder, Otago Purchasing, Richmond Grove Presbyterian Church, St Stephen’s Presbyterian Church, Presbyterian First Church, Elim Church, Bluff Co-op Church, Invercargill South Rotary, Plaza Supervalue, Focus Technology, Sanitarium, Ministry of Education, South Pacific Meats, Waihopai City Lions Club and Fonterra.
A huge thank you to all of the individuals who also made contributions.
“Thank you so very much. It was very overwhelming receiving the large food hamper.""It made for a lovely Christmas day with my fiancé and three children. It has been a hard year and extremely challenging last few months. It is heart warming to see there is so many good people still in this world. I can always give back too. Thank you.”
“Thank you for your kindness and generosity, this has helped me so much. It takes someone special to do what you do, it takes someone who has a big heart and a caring soul.”