This holiday season, practice the true gift of giving. Donating goods or volunteering your time is a great way for your family to give to those in need in our local community and spread holiday cheer in 2025.
No matter how old your kids are, there are lots of different ways to give and contribute to your local community. You can create a bag for Share the Dignity or Soul Hub, donate an unwrapped toy or donate online. Get them involved in choosing items to donate to someone in need. Show them how a small act of giving goes a long way and help those less fortunate around Newcastle, Lake Macquarie & the Hunter.
Create a bag for Share the Dignity
Donate a bag as part of the Share The Dignity’s It’s In The Bag campaign. Fill up a bag (new or barely used) with a list of essentials that they list on their website. Plus, you can add in extras to make someone feel special such as makeup, accessories, moisturiser, hand cream, nail polish, books, etc.
There are three different types of bags you can make: Adult bag, Teen bag or Mum & Bub bag. Once you’ve packed your bag, drop it off at your local Bunnings between 14 – 30 November 2025. Be sure to tag bag with a yellow ribbon for Teen bags and a purple ribbon for Mum & Bub bag. You can find the collection box at the front of Bunnings stores.
Your donation will go directly to someone living in crisis and in need of support during what could be one of the most difficult times in their life. Share the Dignity support people from all different backgrounds, those fleeing domestic violence, experiencing homelessness and those doing it tough. Can’t make it to a Bunnings? You can still help someone in need by sponsoring a bag online.
Maitland Mayor’s Christmas Toy and Food Appeal
In collaboration with Maitland Region Community Support and the Susan Roskell Toy Drive, Maitland City Council is proud to announce its annual Mayor’s Christmas Toy and Food Appeal.
Visit any Maitland Libraries branch or the Maitland Administration Centre to donate nonperishable and Christmas themed food items, as well as new, unwrapped toys and gifts.
Your contributions will help put together toy and food hampers for families in need across Maitland.
Donations can be dropped off between Wednesday 30 October and Wednesday 26 November at the following locations:
- Maitland City Library, 480 High Street, Maitland
- East Maitland Library, Garnett Road, East Maitland
- Rutherford Library, Arthur Street, Rutherford
- Thornton Library, Taylor Avenue, Thornton
- Maitland Administration Centre, 263 High Street, Maitland
Drop off presents at Dullboy’s Warners Bay for Got Your Back Sista
Bring some joy to families in need this Silly Season by taking part in the Dullboy’s Social Co. Christmas Tree Donation Drop! This year, they are once again proudly supporting local domestic violence service, Got Your Back Sista, so that women and families in need can celebrate Christmas with pressies of their own. Dullboy’s Social Co. will be accepting toys or gift card donations appropriate for children aged 10+ years. Simply drop off your donation (unwrapped) to their friendly front counter staff at Dullboy’s Warners Bay anytime throughout November / early December.
Join in the fun of the Bikers For Kids Newcastle Toy Run
The Bikers for Kids Newcastle Toy Run is an annual community fundraising event benefiting the Salvos’ local Christmas Appeal. It is held on the first Sunday of December each year (7 December 2025) to raise funds for disadvantaged families and provide toys for kids that would otherwise go without this Christmas. Rider assembly is from 8am at Stockton for a 10am departure ride to a Community Fun Day at Connolly Park in Carrington
Donating to the toy run is a great way to give back this Christmas, monetary donations or toy donations are welcomed. The Newcastle Toy Run is the oldest annual event of its kind in Australia and the only RMS and police-approved and escorted ride.
Donate a gift to The Wishing Tree at Kmart
The Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal is Australia’s largest and longest-running Christmas gift appeal. Thanks to the incredible generosity of the Australian community, the Appeal has raised more than 8 million gifts that have been distributed to those in need by The Salvation Army.
The Wishing Tree Appeal runs from 10 November to 24 December 2025. With your gifts in tow, visit your local Kmart store and head to the Wishing Tree Station. Here you will find a sticker sheet containing two stickers. Please fill out the gift tag sticker by ticking the correct age bracket for your gift and then attach it to your gift and place it in the gift giving boxes at the base of the Wishing Tree.
You can also drop your gift at the Click & Collection location at any Kmart store. A Salvation Army representative will then collect the gifts from Kmart stores and oversee their distribution to those in need.
Gifts do not need to be purchased at Kmart, nor do they need to be wrapped. The Appeal is unable to accept used or second-hand gifts.
Wish list items include:
- Gift cards
- Books
- Sporting equipment
- Back to school supplies
- Arts & Crafts
- Headphones
- Educational toys
- Toiletries
- Musical instruments
This year, they are especially hoping for gifts that will bring joy to teenagers and help families connect and share special moments together. Some gift ideas include outdoor equipment, board games, headphones, gift cards, educational toys, backpacks, or arts and crafts.
You can also make a monetary contribution by scanning a Wishing Tree tag at any Kmart store register, do an online donation via scanning a QR code in store, or dropping a coin in a coin collection box located at the registers. Local participating stores include Glendale, Kotara, Maitland, Salamander Bay and Waratah.
Support Waves for Wishes 2025
Support Waves for Wishes, an event where you can surf in a festive outfit (like a Santa suit!) or cheer from the sand to support Make-A-Wish® Australia. Combining the ocean, community spirit, and Christmas cheer, the day, supported by She and the Sea Boardriders and Merewether Markets, aims to grant life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Meet at Dixon Park for a surf and enjoy the markets, knowing that every wave and donation helps a wish come true for the 900 Wish kids currently waiting.
Buy a wish card from The Salvation Army
Buy a Wish gift card from the Salvation Army this Christmas. You can choose from a range of ideas to help those less fortunate. Through your monetary donation, the Salvation Army can provide assistance to vulnerable people in our community.
This includes:
- Christmas stocking for a child
- Christmas lunch hamper for a family
- Escape kit for a mother and child
- Street pack for a homeless person
Donate a hamper to Carrie’s Place
Carrie’s Place provides a range of culturally appropriate services for people experiencing experiencing domestic and family violence, and/or homelessness.in Maitland and the Lower Hunter. Carrie’s Place also provides a range of services to vulnerable people to support recovery and build resilience.
This year, Carrie’s Place is taking a different approach with Food Hampers. Instead of traditional food hampers, we’re seeking financial support to provide families with Groceries Only Gift Cards ahead of Christmas. This empowers families to shop for the food they truly need and enjoy, while respecting dietary preferences and allergies—offering dignity through choice.
Carrie’s Place also provides toy and gift hampers at Christmas as they support children from 0-19 years of age, both boys, girls and non-binary children. They support Mums, Dads and Grandparents with many clients living in multigenerational homes, as well as those with special needs. Here is a list of gift ideas that might help when shopping.
- Sporting equipment
- Art and craft supplies
- Lego
- Playing cards and board games
- Puzzles
- Books – for all ages
- Colouring in books – for all ages
- Lunch boxes and drink bottles
- Body wash packs
- Deodorant and shower gel packs
- Hand cream and body lotions
- Beauty and makeup packs
- Caps and hats
- Socls
- Beach towels
- Children’s beauty & hair products
- Chocolate or lolly stockings
Donate a hamper to Soul Hub 2025 Christmas Appeal
Soul Hub helps to support some of Newcastle’s most vulnerable people. They offer numerous services to help the homeless and disadvantaged people within our community. This holiday season, you can assist Soul Café in two ways.
You can donate to Soul Hub. They provided meals and services to vulnerable people in Newcastle and that is only possible because of the generous financial support of the Newcastle community. They rely on community funding, not government funding and a donation of $2 or more is tax deductible.
You can also create a Soul Christmas Hamper of Hope. Check out the Soul Hamper of Hope shopping list and buy the items on the shopping list. The Hampers of Hope are specially curated to bring joy and relief to families and individuals facing hardship this Christmas. Imagine the smiles and gratitude of those who receive these hampers, knowing that their community cares for them. Hampers can be delivered to Soul Café from Monday to Thursday between 7am and 2pm and 7am to 8:30am on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 1 November to 11 December 2025.
Donate new toys, children’s clothes & other items to We Care Connect
We Care Connect is a volunteer-powered local charity rehoming quality preloved children’s essentials with families who need them most on the Central Coast and Hunter Region. Their target group is the 30,000 children living in poverty throughout Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Hunter and Central Coast region.
We Care Connect restores safety, dignity and self-worth to vulnerable children by providing them with great quality clothing, safe and warm bedding, essential equipment, and school/developmental items – all donated by generous community supporters.
You can donate a range of items to We Care Connect including quality pre-loved children’s clothing, shoes, nappies, changing mats, blankets and sheets, prams & strollers, car seats, high chairs, cots and mattresses and backpacks. Visit the We Care Connect website for a full list of items. Every item donated is provided FREE to a family in need.
There’s a number of drop off locations around the Hunter and Central Coast. If you’ve given away all of your baby and kids gear but still want to help, you can make a tax deductible donation.
Christmas Gift Appeal
We Care Connect have also launched their Christmas gift appeal. We Care Connect is on a mission of elf-care: collecting toys for kids who might otherwise wake up to an empty tree and a quiet morning. From teddies to trucks, books to blocks — every little gift helps make a big difference. The most needed gifts are for ages 0-2, then teens 13-18.
What to donate?
- For babies & little ones: soft toys, board books, rattles, bath toys, baby clothes, stacking cups, or musical toys.
- For teens (13–18 years): gift cards, headphones, journals, skincare sets, sports gear, art supplies, books, or accessories.
Drop your brand new toy donations at any We Care drop off partner before Friday 5th December.
Support local Domestic and Family Violence services
This Christmas, support local Domestic and Family Violence services, all of whom work with children. There’s a few ways to get involved from providing donations of new gifts to donating money for these services to help those in need.
Warlga Ngurra Women’s and Children’s Refuge
Christmas appeal – Warlga Ngurra Women’s and Children’s Refuge are seeking donations of new, unopened gifts for babies, children, teens, and adults.
Drop-off time: Weekdays between 10am – 3pm
Location: Warlga Ngurra – Raymond Terrace by 6 Dec
Contact: 4072 1079 Email
Port Stephens Family and Neighbourhood Services
We’re calling on our amazing community to help make Christmas a little brighter for vulnerable children and young people who have had a tough year with their PSFANS Toy Appeal. This year, many children and young people they support are living below the poverty line, are homeless or couch surfing, or have been forced to leave everything behind due to domestic and family violence. They need your help to spread some Christmas joy this Christmas. Find out more
Nova for Women and Children
Nova for Women and Children is committed to bringing Christmas cheer into the lives of women and children who are escaping family and domestic violence or homelessness this festive season with our Care at Christmas Appeal. Instead of donating toys and gifts, they are asking their caring community to contribute to their appeal so we can continue to support women and children throughout the coming year, not just at Christmas. Find out more
Jenny’s Place
For some women and children at Jenny’s Place, this will be their first Christmas free from violence. For others, it marks another milestone in their journey towards independence and empowerment.
Your support ensures that every family experiences the dignity, comfort, and joy they deserve during this special season – while also providing the ongoing services that help them build secure, violence-free futures. There are two ways you can help Jenny’s Place. Either a Online Toy Drive (order by 20 November) or their Christmas Appeal
Get your presents wrapped for a gold coin donation
Need your presents wrapped? Visit the Christmas gift wrapping station at Glendale City Centre in partnership with the Mark Hughes Foundation.
Volunteers will wrap your presents in exchange for a donation to the Mark Hughes Foundation. For a gold coin donation, a friendly volunteer will beautifully wrap your gifts, saving you time and adding a touch of festive flair to your presents.
Date: 10 – 24 December 2025
Time: 9:30am – 3:30pm on Monday to Wednesday. 9:30am-6:30pm Thursdays, 9:30am – 3:30pm on Friday and 10am to 3pm on weekends.
Location: Outside Kmart at Glendale City Centre
Recycle cans and bottles in exchange for a donation
You can make a donation to a charity through the NSW Return and Earn container deposit scheme. The scheme gives people 10c for every glass, plastic and aluminium drinking container returned.
The reverse vending machine has options to donate to not-for-profit and community organisations such as charities, sports clubs and schools. The recipients are rotated every three months.
Donate food to a community pantry
Take what you need. Leave what you can. This is the motto of Free Community Pantries. This Christmas, provide supplies to people who need it the most and fill up a community pantry. Items needed: tinned food with ring pull, pasta, rice, baby food, no-prep meals, toiletries, sanitary items, etc. There are community pantries located at Newcastle CBD (Christ Church Cathedral), Hamilton, (Awaba Park near Hamilton Station), Merewether (Outside Blue Door Cafe), Stockton (at the BBQ shelter adjacent to Lexies) and Tilligerry Peninsula (next to Uniting Church).
Volunteer at a community garden
Community gardens exist to produce local seasonal produce and create a sense of community. Get your kids involved in your local community garden. They’re a great way to learn how things grow and to meet your neighbours through working bees. There are a number of community gardens in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie in which to get involved.
Help someone in your neighbourhood
You don’t have to go far to give back. See if you can help a family member or neighbour. Do you have an elderly neighbour who needs their lawns mowed, some help with groceries or a home-cooked meal? You can get your kids involved and demonstrate to them how you can help.
Do you have other tips to give back this holiday season? Email us.