Sharing festive joy with kids in need for The Advertiser Foundation’s Christmas Kids Appeal at Bird in Hand Winery
There were smiles all around for 100 disadvantaged children who celebrated the festive season at Bird In Hand Winery for The Advertiser Foundation’s Christmas Kids Appeal.
Lifestyle
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There were smiles, laughter and sweets all around for 100 disadvantaged children who celebrated the festive season with a jumping castle, face paint and presents at Bird In Hand Winery on Saturday.
The Advertiser Foundation’s Christmas Kids Appeal partnered with Foodland Supermarkets and Bird In Hand Winery to give Adelaide’s vulnerable kids something to look forward to this Christmas through KickStart for Kids.
The children, aged between four and 12, enjoyed dancing to festive music, eating treats including fairy floss and cupcakes, a sausage sizzle, bouncing on the jumping castle, playing table tennis and receiving presents from Santa.
The Advertiser Foundation broadened its toy appeal this year to also provide vouchers for food to put on the Christmas table for vulnerable children.
Head of The Advertiser Foundation Dan Demaria said the goal was to bring a bit of joy to this Christmas.
“We’re all doing it tough with cost of living at the moment, but particularly these kids,” Mr Demaria said.
“They’re just up here with smiles on their face, kicking the footy, just having a good time for a few hours. The kids are loving it, the face painting seems to be quite popular at the moment, the jumping castle is getting a good workout.’’
He thanked supporters East End Marketing, Palas Jewellery, Port Adelaide Football Club and HarperCollins Australia.
KickStart For Kids is a not-for-profit charity that helps children in need with breakfasts and lunches, vacation activities, future pathway assistance and a period poverty program.
KickStart founder Ian Steel said the Christmas party was an opportunity for the kids to have a fulfilling day.
“These kids are the most disadvantaged kids in South Australia and they won’t have a Christmas like we know,” he said. “It’s great for them to get out with their friends and get among role models and just have a bit of fun for the day.
“We look after about 600 kids in our camps, which we have just before Christmas … and we serve 60,000 breakfast every day to disadvantaged school kids … and it’s great to grab them like this on the weekend and make sure they are really having fun.”
Bird In Hand founder Andrew Nugent said hosting the children was the least they could do. “It’s inflation, it’s all the staples: food, power, fuel, rent, everything is sky high at the moment and it’s nice to be doing a little bit to contribute,” he said.
Readers can donate to The Advertiser Foundation Christmas Kids Appeal here, or you can post a cheque or money order to The Advertiser Foundation, GPO Box 339, Adelaide SA 5000.