Windsor Supports Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal

Kmart Australia recently launched its 36th annual Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal together with founding charity partner, The Salvation Army.

The Wishing Tree Appeal relies on the support from the community, via gifts or monetary contributions in-store and online until Sunday, December 24.

Gifts must be new and unwrapped.

With the generous support of communities like Windsor, the Wishing Tree Appeal has become Australia’s largest and longest-running gift collection drive and has donated over $5.6 million in funding and distributed 10 million gifts to those in need at Christmas.

Kmart aims to raise over half a million dollars this year and collect 300,000 gifts to help those in need at Christmas and beyond.

Kmart Windsor’s Wishing Tree Champion Tracy Koski said the Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal had been an important local initiative for the past 36 years because it gives all customers and team members an opportunity to help families in need in our local community.

“This is my first year as the Kmart Windsor Wishing Tree Champion, and I feel the appeal is a chance for Windsor to do their bit and give back,” Ms Koski said.

“We’ve received around 15 gifts so far but I would love to see this wonderful support continue in the lead up to Christmas.

“It’s so lovely to see people willing to help those that are having a tough time when possibly finding it tough themselves.”

Major Rebecca Inglis from the Salvation Army shared that this year the need was greater than in previous years.

“Christmas is the busiest time of the year for The Salvation Army, and we consider it a privilege to be able to support individuals and families right across the country with gifts and toys to make their Christmas that bit more special,” Major Inglis said.

“Our hope at Christmas is for no one to have to do it alone, and we are extremely proud and grateful to Kmart and the Wishing Tree Appeal, who for over 36 years have partnered with The Salvos to help brighten the festive season for those doing it tough.”

HOW TO GET INVOLVED

There are so many ways to get involved in the 2023 Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal, including:

• Physical gifting: Contributing a new and unwrapped gift under any Wishing Tree at any Kmart store. We encourage people to choose a practical gift and consider gifts for older kids as well to ensure nobody misses out, as we are often overwhelmed with gifts for younger children. Suggested gifts include headphones, backpacks, console games, jewellery, beauty products, hair care appliances and gift cards.
• Financial contributions: Financial contributions can be made easily too, in several different ways including self-checkout (when shopping in store at Kmart, click the Wishing Tree logo on the self-serve checkout to add a donation to any transaction), gold coin donation (drop a gold coin into a collection box at any Kmart or K hub register), or give online (scan the Wishing Tree QR code found in store or on the Appeal website to donate any amount).

• Topics:

• Charity / Worthwhile Causes