Liam McNally
Kmart Melton and The Salvation Army are coming together to support families doing it tough at Christmas through their Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal.
Australia’s largest and longest running gift appeal is returning for its 35th year, and donations are open at the Melton store from November 7 to November 23.
People can donate in five ways; by placing a gift under a Wishing Tree in a Kmart store, by scanning a QR code to make an online contribution, making a donation at self serve checkout, giving spare change in a coin collection box at the registers, or online at kmart.com.au/kmartwishingtree.
The appeal began at the Kmart Adelaide store in 1987, and has raised more than 10 million gifts.
The appeal takes gifts donated at Kmart collection points, and the Salvation Army helps provide them to families in need at Christmas time.
Public relations secretary of the Victorian Salvation Army Major Warren Elliott said that they are experiencing increased demand this year with people reaching out for the first time because of cost of living increases.
“It makes an incredible difference to those families, some of whom would not have been able to provide gifts for their children at all without those gifts from Kmart and the Salvation army,” he said.
“We’ll try our best to make sure they have the best possible Christmas that they can.”
Major Elliot said they are glad to accept whatever people can give, however they are often short on presents suitable for young teenagers.
He said the appeal asks for new gifts, as it’s more respectful to the families.
“When the parents give the presents to their children we want it to look like it’s coming from them,” he said.
