Kindness Collective’s Christmas Joy Store has returned for the fourth year.
The Kindness Collective’s Christmas Joy Store, New Zealand’s first social toy store, has given families in need the gift of kindness and the dignity of choice.
Kindness Collective Founder and CEO Sarah Page said referrals for the Joy Store and its foodbank for needy families increased 52 percent this year. The growing waitlist reflected the harsh reality of the tough economic conditions that families have been facing.
“Our goal is to provide gifts for at least 20,000 children to unwrap on Christmas, each chosen with love by their parents or caregivers, as well as providing food for every family,” said Page.
“Every child deserves a magical Christmas, and every parent or caregiver deserves to be able to provide that for their tamariki. The Joy Store is returning for its fourth year to do just that. It’s a mammoth undertaking, and we couldn’t do it without the incredible support of partners, volunteers and donations that bring the Joy Store to life.”
From the 28th of November to the 23rd of December, thousands of referred parents and caregivers will enter the Joy Store based in Auckland, where they will choose from a selection of new donated toys, ensuring their children have something special to unwrap this Christmas.
For those based outside of Auckland, the Collective works with 75 other organisations, such as the NZ Police, hospitals, social services, marae, schools, and early learning centres, to ensure the Joy Store’s magic reaches families up and down New Zealand.
Food and treats are another major component of the Christmas Joy Store, where visitors can pick up goodies and pantry staples to enjoy on Christmas Day.
Sourcing, preparing, stocking, distributing, and staffing the Joy Store is a significant operation. More than 1,000 volunteers support it.
“We are so very thankful for each and every donation, volunteer, business and organisation that gets behind this initiative. It’s a real community effort.”
Kiwis can make contributions in various ways, such as an online Secret Santa, dropping off brand new toys to any Christmas Joy Store collection point at the local participating Mitre 10 store from the 8th of November to the 14th of December or donating to feed a family with pantry staples and festive treats.
The Kindness Collective would like to thank the individuals and organisations that are already supporting the Joy Store, including partners such as LEGO, Nescafe Classic, The Warehouse Group, Tegel, and Mitre 10.
