The annual charity drive is back in Greerton for this festive season.

Ray White Greerton office will be taking donated gifts for the children to the Te Aranui Youth Trust for the fourth year as they believe “everyone should receive a gift this Christmas,” says Dane.

This is an opportunity to “give back to the kids that don’t necessarily get gifts on Christmas,” says business owner and licensed salesperson Dane Crockford.

They are asking for your support to get behind this great cause and put a smile on the faces of the 42 kids at Te Aranui Youth Trust.

They are looking for donations for boys and girls between the ages of 6-17.

Your gift can be dropped to the Greerton office up until December 12, 2023, in time for their annual Christmas party.

If you can't get it to the office then they are happy to collect and wrap it for you.

Please get in touch today.

“They've got to be new,” says Dane.

“Give a gift voucher, toys, colouring books with pencils, sports, toiletries are good, especially the older ones.

“It can be a cash donation.

“If we get some cash donations we get the ladies from the trust, take them out shopping because they know the kids,” says Dane.

“All the gifts come into our office, and then we collect them all, we itemize them, we put them all in a big spreadsheet.

“A couple of the ladies from the trust come in and help us put the packages together and we wrap them all in Christmas paper.

“Then we deliver them.”

“They have an annual Christmas party for the kids and that is when they open all their gifts,” says Dane.

The youth trust is not funded says Dane.

Te Aranui Youth Trust is a not for profit organisation that works with vulnerable children in the Western Bay of Plenty, from Katikati to Maketu, says Dane.

“Everything they get is basically donations.”

“Some of them come from pretty tough backgrounds and the trust is their guidance, they help the kids and steer them in the right direction for a bright future.”

Te Aranui Youth Trust is working in conjunction with the NZ Police and Ministry of Education, Te Aranui Youth Trust provides interventions for vulnerable youth between the ages of 6-17, says Dane.

Founded over 20 years ago from a desire to provide disadvantaged youth with the tools for a positive future, the trust provides role models who help to instil a sense of pride in the children, teaching them life skills that are taken for granted by many, says Dane.

The trust deals with a wide range of children who may have experienced poverty, domestic violence, drug/alcohol abuse and the social challenges that arise from these issues, says Dane.

The past few years have been a really difficult time for a lot of families in New Zealand, says Dane. 

The holiday period can be a pretty emotionally charged time, so it’s important for us to make an effort to help out people who might be struggling after facing serious challenges and setbacks, says Dane.

We’re very lucky that Te Aranui Youth Trust is partnering with us again this year, says Dane.