From the Lord Mayor's Office
Closing the loop on kindness
Last Christmas, we asked those who were in a position to give to others, to consider putting a gift under the City of Wollongong Giving Tree.
Read more in: Supporting the City of Wollongong Giving Tree
While Christmas might seem like an age ago, next Monday marks just two months since optimistic youngsters put out their stockings, cookies, milk and carrots in the hope that Santa could come.
So what better time to reflect upon the generosity of our community?
Through the City of Wollongong Giving Tree and the gifts shared through the annual Bikers’ Toy Run, St Vincent de Paul and Anglicare were able to assist more than 625 families for Christmas. That’s families alone – and doesn’t account for the number of children in each household!
That number, 625, translates to an extraordinary number of children who woke up on Christmas morning to see lovingly wrapped presents under the tree just for them.
And while there were more than 1250 toys – as well as two bikes – distributed by one charity alone, there were also things like gift cards for older children who would otherwise have missed out on Christmas gifts.
I’m just so grateful to all those people who added an unknown recipient to their Christmas list and took the time to consider another person at this hectic time of year. Your contribution goes a long way to making Wollongong such a wonderful community.
The City of Wollongong Giving Tree along with Carols in MacCabe Park will return in 2025 and it brings me such comfort to know our community will, again, rise to the challenge of caring for others as we celebrate the season.
