A Christmas tree and gifting area has been set up in the reception of the Waimate District Council on Queen Street, where the public can leave gifts to be distributed by Community Link before Christmas.
"For children, the festive season can be one of the highlights of the year, but many family budgets are stretched during the current cost-of-living crisis," a council spokesperson said.
"Everyone wants to see their child experience a joyful Christmas Day, but many families are living paycheque to paycheque and simply don’t have any money left over to buy gifts."
Mayoress Lyn Stringer, who leads the initiative says the aim is to put smiles on the faces of children, who may otherwise have missed out.
"After all, unwrapping a present is exciting.
"The capacity for our community to give is phenomenal. I want to give my heartfelt thanks to everyone who donated last year and hope the community will support the project again this year."
Community Link takes referrals from a wide range of social services and is the distributor of the gifts which are given to families within the Waimate District.
Gifts need to be brand new, unwrapped, and can be dropped off at the Waimate District Council reception by 4pm on Friday, December 5.
Last year, about 100 children received gifts from the Christmas Child initiative.
— Allied Media
