For many New Zealanders, the cost of festive food, and toys for their children, put Christmas celebrations out of reach this year.
Increasing housing costs, and the impact of COVID on the availability of paid work, meant many families were finding things especially tough.
Thanks to hundreds of generous donors and supporters like you who chose to help, Visionwest’s 5 Days of Christmas provided Christmas food and children’s gifts for struggling families.
1,186 food and gift parcels were packed by teams of volunteers and, as a result, more than 4,000 adults and children were fed over Christmas.
And, more than two thousand children who would otherwise have missed out, were able to experience the simple joy of opening a gift on Christmas morning.