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Leave your toy donations at Lantern Club Reception and help the Salvation Army’s Christmas toy drive. Put a smile on a child’s face.
Christmas is a magical time of year. Families and loved ones gather to spend quality time with each other, share a meal and give each other gifts. Often it’s these times that we remember and talk about for many years to come. They can become one of the highlights of our lives. It’s also a fantastic opportunity to show your charitable side. Toy donations are a wonderful way to brighten the lives of those who may have fallen on hard times. Ensuring a child wakes up with a toy under their Christmas tree is an extraordinary gift. You can help make that a reality through Lantern Club’s Christmas toy drive.
How many Australian families are doing it tough?
Unfortunately, there are too many families who can’t enjoy the quintessential Australian Christmas. Financial hardship means some parents simply can’t afford to buy toys for their children. More families than ever are under financial and emotional stress due to social and economic changes over the past two decades. This has resulted in an increase in the gap between low-income earners and the rest of the community. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) 2009-10 Survey of Income and Housing, 38% of children live in what are considered low economic resource households. Almost 60% of households classified as low-income (earning up to $465 per week) are single parents with dependent children. Given this trend over the past 20 years, it’s fair to assume this gap is getting bigger, not smaller.
Homelessness Australia estimates there is just over 105,000 homeless Australians, of which almost 18,000 are under 12-years-of age, and almost 11,000 are between 12-18 years of age. Almost 60% of these people are staying in supported accommodation for the homeless, or ‘severely’ overcrowded dwellings. It’s hard to imagine, given their plight, how these people can enjoy a traditional Christmas and all that it brings.
Your toy donations can make a huge difference?
The Salvation Army does an incredible job helping people in need, particularly over the Christmas period. This includes finding shelter for the homeless, distributing toys to children from their Christmas toy drive, and providing hampers for those who struggle to put food on the table. Over the course of any given year the Salvation Army helps more than one million disadvantaged Australians.
This Christmas we’re encouraging all members and guests to join our Christmas toy drive. Your toy donations will help us make Christmas Day one to remember for many local children. All you have to do is place a wrapped toy under the Christmas tree at Reception from Wednesday 16 November to Sunday 18 December. We’ll pass them onto the Salvation Army who will distribute them to local children.
Toy donation ideas
Children of all ages will be in need of gifts from the Christmas toy drive. We know you’re busy preparing for your own Christmas Day celebrations and your time is precious. So we thought we’d make it easier for you by offering some gift suggestions.
Baby & Toddler (0– 3)
- Fisher-Price Baby’s First Blocks – $9.99
- Vtech – Toot Toot Drivers – Big Fire Engine – $27.99
- Little Tikes Garden Table – $59.98
Boys and Girls (4– 12)
- Pie Face Game – $39.99
- 4M – 3D Art Creative Spiral Fun – $12.99
- Electronic Giggle Wiggle – $24.99
Teenager (13-18)
- Monopoly Junior – $29.99
- Razor A Scooter – $49.99
- Kids Half Size Electric Guitar with Built-In Amplifier – $49.99
Remember, donate a gift at Lantern Club Reception between November 16 and December 18 and bring joy to a child in need.
Merry Christmas!
© Lantern Club, Roselands