Christmas wrap up
9 January 2014
Over the Christmas and New Year period The Salvation Army assisted approximately 300,000 people - three times more people compared to any other month. Thank you to the Australian public who share in The Salvation Army’s mission to care for people in need at Christmas and throughout the year.
Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal
Largest
This year Australians generously donated 470,658 gifts to the Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal.
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Dr Bruce Redman of The Salvation Army says gifts donated to the Appeal will mean a brighter Christmas for thousands of people doing it tough. “Once again Aussies have generously supported people they don’t know and may never meet. To everyone who donated, we say a big thank you,” he said.
Corporate donors defied a tough economic climate and increased their participation in the Appeal by 624%, with 181 organisations donating gifts or funds.
Number of toys donated by state:
NSW: 110,727
VIC: 95,798
QLD: 85,847
WA: 41,726
SA: 43,836
TAS: 8,990
NT: 3,528
Victoria
On the Wednesday before Christmas, The Salvation Army in Melbourne’s CBD put on Christmas lunch for over 250 people – the biggest lunch ever held there.
Over 300 plates were dished up as around 30 volunteers served a meal to the homeless and disadvantaged in the city.
The Australian Hotels Association donated both food and kitchen staff to make this event possible.
Tateum Murphy (right) helps to serve meals to those attending the lunch. Tateum is one of the organisers of the daily operations of Hamodava Café which is based at The Salvation Army Melbourne CBD.
South Australia
Over 300 people were served Christmas Day lunches at Unley, Golden Grove and Murray Bridge. At Adelaide Congress Hall, in the heart of the CBD, over 220 Christmas dinners were served on the Saturday night before Christmas.
Thank you to Foodland who held a non-perishable food collection promotion through its network of 114 stores to assist The Salvation Army’s Community Support Services Network throughout South Australia. Thanks also to Nova FM Adelaide who collected toys from the Kmart Wishing Tree and distributed them to families in need.