UNE staff, students and community are invited to donate gifts for children in need, with the Armidale campus partnering with Armidale based New England Family Support Services and Sydney and Tamworth teams selecting Westmead Children’s Hospital and Sora Community Services.
"The generosity of UNE staff was on show last year and we are bringing back the Giving Tree from December," said UNE’s Chief Operating Officer Meredith Parry.
"We have chosen local charities with strong links to UNE through our students and alumni. New England Family Support Services provides a whole range of critical services to families in our region and it's my pleasure to support their work this Christmas."
New England Family Support Services Program Manager and UNE student Kye Single said “NEFSS supported over 11000 people through the region over the last year, engaging with us across all of our programs. We are committed to helping our community through the ups and downs of life and appreciate the support that you have shown us.”
New England Family Support Service works with people in Armidale, Walcha, Uralla, Guyra and across the New England, providing programs and practical supports to families and communities members through their casework, supported playgroups, Neighbourhood Centres and programs such as HIPPY, Settlement Engagement and Transition Support, Redress Support Service, Children’s contact service and Rural Recovery outreach.
Armidale - UNE Armidale campus will support New England Family Support Services. Preferred donations are un-wrapped toys; the majority of families have children under 8, but gifts can be suitable for children and teens up to 18. Deliver gifts to the Giving Tree on the ground floor of Booloominbah or at Café Life. Cut-off date for donations is Monday 15 December.
Tamworth-based staff will support Sora Community Services, which provides family and domestic violence support, homelessness and advocacy support, early intervention programs, and family support across the New England North West region. They're requesting wrapped toys (labelled with age and gender) for children and teens up to 18 years. More information is available at sora.org.au. Cut-off date for donations is Wednesday 17 December.
Sydney - UNE Sydney will donate to The Children's Hospital, Westmead. The hospital accepts new toys and gift cards for children aged 0-18. Details can be found on their gift guide page. Unwrapped gifts can be placed under the Christmas Tree in the foyer of 28 George St Parramatta. The cut-off date for all donations is Wednesday, 17 December at 4pm, with Sydney gifts to be delivered to Westmead the following day.
Gift ideas (3-5 years)
- Play-Doh
- Duplo and Megablocks
- Thomas the Tank Engine
- Bluey
- Sesame Street
- Stickers
- Imaginative toys (e.g. tea sets, tool kits)
- Books for little people
- Musical instruments
- Pillow Pets
School aged children (6-11 years)
- Lego
- Hot Wheels cars and trucks
- Board games
- Arts and craft materials
- Science kits
- Hair accessories and Nail Polish
- Jigsaw puzzles
