Tree aims to grant wishes
Parks Shopping Centre Kmart manager Ashleigh Padley hopes to collect 5000 gifts this year for people in need, after the Wishing Tree Appeal was launched on Thursday.
People are encouraged to place a gift under the Wishing Tree at any Kmart store or scan a bauble tag at the register to do their part for the less fortunate.
“Last year we collected 3000 gifts at this store, so we are very much looking to seeing what our tally is and are really excited to be a part of this,” Ms Padley said.
“People in need get forgotten about over Christmas ... whether a kid or an adult, everyone likes to have something to unwrap on Christmas day.”
Salvation Army Captain Mark Schatz implored the community to “step up, be generous and bring hope to those in need” this festive season.
“We are not immune in Bunbury – we are like the rest of the country where in every city you have those doing it tough,” he said.
Capt. Schatz said some people in the South West had to make the difficult decision of whether to eat or cool their homes in the summer months.
“They are living close to the poverty line and Christmas is just that expense they can’t afford,” he said.
“For us to be able to do this means those guys have an enjoyable Christmas and really we want that for our city – it makes the town stronger when we give.”
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