The Make a Child Smile campaign, a special collaboration between Mount Maunganui Lions and Te Ao Mārama - Tauranga City Libraries, is seeking toy donations once again this December.

This year’s list of families who are financially struggling is the longest yet.

Each year, the Make a Child Smile campaign seeks toy donations which are given out at a special Christmas dinner for local families in need.

Families, identified with the help of Plunket, are invited to attend the dinner and each child is given a toy carefully selected for them. Now in its 11th year, the campaign has inspired thousands of gift donations from generous locals to those in need throughout our community.

Unfortunately, the list of struggling families with children, that the campaign receives each year, is a long one.

“We’ve had some wonderful responses to past campaigns,” says Mount Maunganui Lions Brenda Anderson, “but this year, we really need the magic to happen.”

The toys have been flowing in steadily so far this Christmas season, but there is a nervousness about whether the amount collected will cover everyone.

“We’re reaching out for help because we don’t want to see anyone go away from our community dinner disappointed”, says Brenda,

“I’ve met and spoken to so many generous people in the community over the years that we’ve been doing this.

Finding generosity isn’t hard in Tauranga, it’s just that we need to mobilise that generosity quickly this year!”

This year’s cut off for donations is Monday, 11 December, as the community dinner is scheduled for Tuesday, 12 December—so those who would like to donate a present are asked to get to their local library quick smart.

In saying that, Daniel and Brenda feel it’s always important to stress that late donations will never be turned away.

“We will find a good home for every gift that we receive.”

Gift donations can be dropped off to any Te Ao Mārama - Tauranga City Libraries location from now until Monday, 11 December.