Image: Salvation Army Wishing Tree Appeal Launch

Pictured: Jude Dobson and her son Jack place the first official present under the Wishing Tree.

The Salvation Army Finds Young Children And Teenagers Miss Out At Christmas Time

The Salvation Army told attendees at the national launch of The Kmart Wishing Tree® Appeal in Auckland today that they particularly require toys for young children and gifts for adolescent boys aged 10 to 13 years.

Since its inception in 1994, New Zealand's largest Christmas gift appeal, the Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal has enabled more than 37,000 New Zealanders to share in the joy of Christmas.

Major Ross Gower, Divisional Secretary for Programme of The Salvation Army said that 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 is greater than ever before.

"We are desperate for Christmas gifts and we're calling on people to donate early so that our supply does not run short and we can continue to distribute gifts up until Christmas Eve," he said.

The Appeal's theme is Every Gift Brings A Smile highlighting the difference that every donated gift will make to an individual at Christmas.

To participate in the Appeal simply place a wrapped gift under the Wishing Tree located at any Kmart store. Take a gift tag from the tree that identifies the appropriate gender and age of a suitable recipient and place it with your gift.

Gifts do not have to be purchased at Kmart - the stores simply act as co-ordination points, bringing together community resources and welfare groups to distribute gifts.

The Appeal was established after a Kmart employee suggested Kmart use its network of store to help charity groups at Christmas time.

-ends- Kind regards,

Nikki W.

NIKKI WRIGHT Porter Novelli New Zealand Tel: 64 9 373 3786 Fax: 64 9 373 3790 Mob: 025 614 0751 nikki@porternovelli.co.nz

PO Box 108 188 Symonds Street Level 6, Newcall Tower 44 Khyber Pass Auckland

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