Friends with Dignity pushes ahead with their Annual Christmas Toy Drive amidst COVID Pandemic
Nationwide domestic and family violence support charity and Australian Charity of the Year 2018, Friends with Dignity is doing all they can to help create a brighter Christmas for survivors of domestic and family violence amidst the Covid pandemic by pushing ahead with their annual Christmas Toy Drive.
The annual Friends with Dignity Christmas Drive is in its fifth consecutive year, and was born after the not-for-profit organisation realised a need to provide some happiness and a sense of normality to individuals and families in refuge at what is supposed to be a wonderful time of the year.
Friends with Dignity is calling out to the public to donate new and unwrapped gifts for men, women and children. All gifts are welcome from fishing rods and rugby balls, to magazines and make-up.
The Christmas Toy Drive continues to grow not only by the number of gifts donated each year, but also drop-off locations around Australia. “In our first year, we covered refuges in Brisbane and the Gold Coast,” said Friends With Dignity Community Engagements Co-ordinator, Catherine Woodbine.
"This has now grown to assist those in refuges in areas around Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Newcastle and Perth.
"This year we are gathering all our volunteers into central locations to collate the gifts, then distribute them, according to the needs of each refuge, agency or service."
Each refuge and agency that registers for the Toy Drive provides a general breakdown of ages and gender of the children and adults.
"We try and provide a larger toy, a smaller toy and a book for each child, depending on the amount of the donations we receive," said Friends With Dignity National Community Engagements Manager, Rosemary Macchiavelli.
"Plus also something for the Mum and/or Dad, to put a smile on their faces, too.
"For this reason we ask that all gifts are to be unwrapped. We also accept and appreciate gift cards and vouchers.
"Wrapping paper, gift bags, sticky tape and scissors are also accepted to allow the parent to choose an appropriate gift for their child and provide them the dignity of wrapping the present on Christmas Eve."
Members of the community are also encouraged to host a workplace drive to collect toys and gifts with colleagues and can email community@friendswithdignity.org.au for more information and to register.
All gifts and donations are to be dropped off to one of the registered locations by no later than the 7th of December, 2020 to allow time to distribute to all the agencies and services.
All donors are reminded to take the necessary precautions to ensure Covid safety. For a full list of drop-off locations, please visit http://www.friendswithdignity.org.au/christmastoydrive or contact community@friendswithdignity.org.au.
