Filling the Festive Gap – Reaching Out to Kiwi Families in Need This Christmas
When we think Christmas most of us think of twinkling lights, hearty laughter, and presents glistening under the tree. Yet for over 254,000 Kiwi kids and their families, this Christmas vision is no reality, and year after year many face a bleak festive season.
We can change this by supporting New Zealand’s annual Christmas Box initiative. Bringing joy and food to families of four-to-six, so they can enjoy a Christmas meal, and additional food for up to a week.
Spreading the cheer
The annual Christmas Box initiative sees thousands of hand-packed and delivered food boxes distributed throughout New Zealand, Melbourne and the Cook Islands.
Christmas Box partners with over 350+ community organisations and countless volunteers to see the dream of Christmas come true for their whanau, community and nation.
“Without Christmas Box, we wouldn’t be having Christmas. We can now have Christmas dinner and enough food to last for a while. You have brought joy to our family and smiles on our kids’ faces.” – CB Family 2018
Since its inception in 2001, the project has delivered over 112,000 boxes to numerous families. That’s more than 560,000 people fed!
Filling a void
The demand for Christmas Box continues to grow year-on-year. And so, Kiwis like you and I, have an even bigger challenge to help bring a hope-filled Christmas to the table.
NZ statistics portray that 10% of Kiwi families are left to face poverty after paying their rent, mortgage and bills.
“The September quarter figures confirm that New Zealand is in a poverty crisis,” explains Lili Lemalu, Christmas Box’s LIFE community manager. “Frontline community workers are saying the demand for food (and housing) has significantly increased. Which is why a Christmas Box is the decider on whether families celebrate Christmas. It’s so heart-breaking that it has this much power, but sadly it does.”
Reach out
For every $30 you donate, a sponsor gifts an additional $45 to each box. That means you’ll be gifting one family a $75 box worth of food. Grocery items include Weet-Bix and Milo, along with shelf staples like rice and noodles.
Join us in delivering help and hope for a nation-wide celebratory Christmas. Donate now at www.christmasbox.co.nz.