The Kmart and Salvation Army Wishing Tree Appeal is Australia’s largest and longest running Christmas gift appeal.

This year’s campaign is running from November 10th through to December 24th.

With the cost of living increasing it makes the donations to families in need even more special. Gifts collected in our area of East Gippsland Shire are complied and sorted at the Bairnsdale Salvation Army centre and then redistributed within our community.

All donations from the Lakes Aquadome will go out to our local families in need via the Bairnsdale Salvos!

Although this appeal is run leading up to Christmas, the donations are often used throughout the coming year. With this in mind, we ask that donations are thoughtfully chosen for longevity; this could be books, craft supplies, sporting/gym equipment, backpacks or handbags. It has been noted over the years that the majority of donations are for young children, we ask that you keep in mind the teenager and adult age groups as well.

We ask that all donations are in new condition and unwrapped. This may seem odd however in the context of Christmas unused gifts are important and having them unwrapped makes sorting them easier for the Salvos team. This also gives receiving parents the opportunity to wrap the gifts themselves, adding a personal touch.

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