Tree is still wishing well

By Bridget Cook
CHRISTMAS will be a little brighter for those less fortunate with the launch of the 24th Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal at the Cranbourne store this month.
Students from St Agatha’s Primary School helped celebrate the launch on Wednesday 16 November singing Christmas carols to entertain the crowd.
Kmart Cranbourne, located at the Centro Shopping Centre, has teamed up with The Salvation Army to bring some Christmas cheer to those who need it most.
The appeal collects gifts on behalf of The Salvation Army, which distributes them to children and families that would otherwise go without on Christmas morning.
Members of the public who would like to donate a gift can take a gift tag off the Wishing Tree located in Kmart Cranbourne, identify the appropriate gender and age of a suitable recipient, put it with their gift and place it under the tree.
The national target for this year’s Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal is 470,000 gifts, building on last year’s record tally of 464,000.
Major Jeff Winterburn from The Salvation Army is calling on all Australians to once again to open up their hearts and support those in need.
“This year has been extraordinarily tough for many Aussies, but it has also reminded us how generous Australians are when a crisis hits,” he said.
“We’re anticipating that more Australians will be in need this Christmas, and we hope that the generosity towards the Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal continues so that we can assist these people.”
Major Winterburn said those who gave gifts should keep in mind people of all ages when donating.
“It’s important to remember that mums, dads, grandmothers and grandfathers will need gifts at Christmas as well, but in particular it is the teenage boys and girls who often go without at Christmas,” he said.
Gifts can be donated up until Christmas Eve.