Wishes Come True For 11,857 Kiwi Kids

MEDIA RELEASE Tuesday, December 24 2002

The Wishing Tree Appeal Makes Wishes Come True For 11,857 Kiwi Kids

New Zealanders donated more than 11,857 Christmas presents to The Wishing Tree Appeal in 2002 for recipient charities The Salvation Army and Barnardos - an outstanding achievement highlighting the generosity of our people.

Kmart New Zealand has co-ordinated The Wishing Tree Appeal for the past eight years with each store displaying a Wishing Tree so the public can place gifts for those less fortunate underneath. The presents are then collected by the charities and given to parents living below the poverty line so they can fulfil their children's Santa wish lists.

This year a regional challenge was held to see which area of New Zealand could raise the highest number of gifts and fly the flag for being 'New Zealand's Most Generous City'. Henderson was given top honours with a final gift tally total of 1855.

:::WEEK 1:::WEEK 2:::WEEK 3:::WEEK 4:::WEEK 5:::WEEK 6:::Xmas Eve
TOTAL
REGIONAL CHALLENGE GIFT TALLY RESULTS

HENDERSON::::::23:::42:::278:::223:::442:::497:::350
1855
PORIRUA::::::106:::64:::82:::150:::150:::479:::350:::1351
ST LUKES::::::49:::50:::88:::115:::235:::550:::121
1187
PAPATOETOE::::::55:::45:::93:::172:::143:::197:::300
1005
HASTINGS::::::7:::50:::23:::93:::133:::118:::100
524
PALMERSTON NORTH:::57:::67:::106:::233:::300:::198:::160
1121
TAURANGA::::::46:::84:::100:::101:::50:::50:::282
713
HAMILTON::::::45:::93:::98:::141:::123:::379:::350
1229
RICCARTON::::::7:::45:::86:::70:::51:::260:::102
621
SHIRLEY::::::64:::45:::197:::205:::218:::303:::110:::1122
DUNEDIN::::::53:::47:::73:::88:::209:::498:::120:::1088
TOTAL:::::::::505:::632:::1399:::1591:::2054:::3529:::2304
11,857

Lt. Colonel Don Oliver of The Salvation Army says while Christmas is a happy time for many New Zealanders, for some it can be the saddest time of the year.

"With more and more people living below the poverty line in New Zealand the need for donated gifts this year was greater than ever before.

ENDS

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