The Caltex Wanaka team hopes to match or better its gift tally from last year’s 'Toys For Kids' campaign, which starts again next Monday. Pictured are (from left) staff member Goldie Walker and service station owners Kassandra Jackson and Matt Davison.
Caltex Wanaka owners Kassandra Jackson and Matt Davison ran Toys for Kids at their service station last year when the campaign was first launched.
Caltex service stations nationwide are encouraged to get behind the campaign to support local families in need at Christmas time by inviting people to place gifts under a special in-store Christmas tree in exchange for a decoration.
The couple said the Wanaka community donated 112 gifts last year and they hoped people in the town could match or better that total when the campaign got under way again next week.
The large number of gifts donated in Wanaka was one of the highest in the country based on the population in the area and led to Caltex Wanaka being used as a role model in the company staff magazine.
‘‘Because we got really enthused about it and got behind it and it wouldn't have worked without the community involvement and that was what they felt was so fantastic,'' Ms Jackson said.
‘‘I think we did so well because the community heard what we were doing and it's such a supportive community here.
Last year staff members donated presents to get the campaign started, she said. While there was a perception that people had to be reasonably wealthy to live in Wanaka, there were families in need in the area, she said.
All presents must be new and will be checked by Community Networks staff, who will distribute the gifts.
Caltex service stations in Alexandra, Cromwell and Queenstown will take part in the campaign, which runs from Monday until Sunday, December 21.
