Annual Kmart and Salvation Army Wishing Tree Appeal launches in Rockhampton

It’s meant to be the happiest time of year, but for some it’s the hardest. Here’s how one Central Queensland charity is helping families in need this Christmas.

The annual Kmart and Salvation Wishing Tree Appeal launched in Rockhampton recently with the organisation expecting more calls for help in the coming weeks.

It’s often dubbed the most wonderful time of year or the happiest season of all, but for some, Christmas can be one of the hardest times.

This year amid cost of living pressures, organisations such as the Salvation Army are expecting more calls for help across Central Queensland.

To try and bring a bit of Christmas cheer to those who need a helping hand, the Salvation Army and popular retail giant Kmart recently launched their annual Wishing Tree Appeal.

Over the past 35 years, the Wishing Tree Appeal has collected more than 10 million gifts across the country.

Corps Officer for the Salvation Army in Capricornia Peter Sutcliffe encouraged people to get behind the appeal to help those in need around CQ.

“The need continues to grow, I think over the last 35 years more than half a million gifts have been donated (in CQ),” he said.

“Here in Rockhampton we support over 150 families from single parents to single adults, no age bracket is forgotten.”

Major Sutcliffe said one of the major factors that brought people to the Salvation Army was the cost of living struggles.

“They talk to us about how they are struggling to make ends meet, put food on the table each week, so the cost of living is a big factor,” he said.

“When you add the expectation of providing gifts as well at Christmas that provides extra pressure for families and it’s an unnecessary pressure they don’t need.

“So organisations like the Salvation Army are here to help them through this tough period.”

The annual Kmart and Salvation Wishing Tree Appeal launched in Rockhampton recently with the organisation expecting more calls for help in the coming weeks.

Major Sutcliffe said this year’s theme for the Salvation Army was to leave no one in need.

“We can only do that if people get behind us and support us,” he said.

“We’re just one organisation in Central Queensland helping people in need.”

The appeal runs right up until Christmas Eve.

There are many ways people can donate to the appeal including putting gifts under the tree in store, online or putting money in donation tins.

Major Sutcliffe said while they helped hundreds of families each year, there were age groups they struggled to provide for during the appeal.

“One of the age groups we do struggle with each year are people above the age of 10,” he said.

“Yeah the cuddly toys are great, but we really struggle getting gifts for those aged 10 right through to adults so think about those over 10, for boys it could be sporting equipment, or tickets to movies or things like timezone, for girls maybe things like perfume or makeup.”

Quinn Parle from Kmart Rockhampton said it was great to be able to give back to the local community.

“Christmas is an important time for most families in Australia and it’s great a company like Kmart can give back to their communities in this way,” he said.

“This year it’s more important than ever, as we mentioned the cost of living is really tough for families at this time.

“If we can help to provide that fantastic Christmas Day in some way then that’s what we’d love to do.”