General News
10 November, 2022
Kmart launches Christmas cheer fundraiser
Kmart has launched its 35th Wishing Tree Appeal in the hope of making Christmas time merry for all. Running from now until December 24, the Maryborough store is asking customers to donate gifts for families in need. “I’m pumped and really...
Kmart has launched its 35th Wishing Tree Appeal in the hope of making Christmas time merry for all.
Running from now until December 24, the Maryborough store is asking customers to donate gifts for families in need.
“I’m pumped and really excited,” Kmart Maryborough operations manager Jackie Sweet said.
“People who are in need during Christmas time can get presents donated to them if they’re struggling to get gifts for their children.
“This is the biggest one we’ve had since COVID came and it feels really good. So hopefully it’ll be a big celebration this year.”
In her speech during the launch on Wednesday, Kmart Maryborough store manager Helena Lehmann said this year the theme around donations was ‘Christmas and Beyond’.
“This means if you would like to donate, we would love it if you could choose a gift that is useful beyond Christmas,” she said.
Gifts such as sporting equipment, school supplies, bath towels, books, socks, bed linen and headphones are some recommendations made by the store.
The appeal works in collaboration with The Salvation Army who help in distributing the donations.
“At The Salvation Army, we support our local community in lots and lots of different ways and by donations that come in through Kmart and their wishing tree appeal, we’re able to hand out some gifts to people who might not be able to get them otherwise,” Maryborough Salvation Army captain Ronald Stobie said.
Mr Stobie said the partnership was an opportunity to connect with one another to make this a bright Christmas for as many people possible.
“We are super thankful for everything, we’re thankful for our community, for everything they do in supporting one another and we’re also thankful for Kmart for actually running this and setting up space in their stores, space which they could use to sell other stuff but they dedicate it to support the local community as well,” he said.
“One of the best part about this is that all donations come here through Maryborough and it stays in our local community.”
Residents can donate in multiple ways, which includes purchasing a gift and putting a tag on it then placing it under the wishing tree in the store; adding a monetary donation to transactions on the self-serve registers; donating online at Kmart.com.au; or by scanning the QR code on the wishing tree stand or instore.
Donations are accepted from different retailers as well as those that are handmade. Second-hand or used gifts must be directly donated to The Salvation Army store.