14 ways to give back this Christmas

Run by the Kindness Collective, The Christmas Joy Store is New Zealand’s first social toy store that provides children with the dignity of choice of gifts and treats. As the Kindness Collective is finding as many toys to give to children nationwide as possible, you can donate a new toy at select drop-off locations or give a monetary gift online.

For further information, read all about the beautiful founder, Sarah here

Looking for a cuddly way to give back this Christmas? Kmart has launched Koha Bear, a heartwarming limited-edition plush toy bound to bring smiles and make a difference in the community this Christmas. Available both online and in-store, for every Koha Bear purchase, $2 will be donated to the Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal, helping to create a brighter future for families in need. Each Koha Bear has an embroidered 2024 detail on its foot. 

Six years since its departure, the viral Kiwi Firefighters Calendar is back. Featuring 12 current and former serving firefighters from around Aotearoa, all profits are donated to Movember, a charity that funds men’s health projects like mental health and prostate cancer.

Beloved animal charity Pet Refuge has partnered with iconic Kiwi toy brand Buzzy Bee to create the first-ever Buzzy Bee soft chew dog toy and cat wand.

These playful gifts are ideal stocking stuffers for the family pet, and the profits go directly towards caring for vulnerable animals whose owners are escaping family violence.

While many Kiwi families soak up the sun these holidays at the beach, some face a very different festive season. For families with children who are ill or injured, and who need life-saving treatment or surgery these holidays, RMHC New Zealand becomes a ‘home‑away‑from‑home’. This year RMHC NZ is expecting a record number of Kiwi families needing support – possibly more than the 500 that stayed at one of RMHC NZ’s facilities during the holiday season last year. 

The CEO is asking Kiwis to ‘gift a night’. From $50, you can support families in need.

Westpac Rescue Rashies are brightly coloured rash vests designed to keep children aged 2-8 safe in and around the water this summer.

100% of the purchase price of each rashie will go towards the life-saving work your local Westpac rescue helicopter service undertakes. At checkout, you can donate an extra vest to Water Safety New Zealand’s Water Skills for Life programme to protect children in need.

Sweet Louise aims to improve the quality of life for Kiwis battling terminal breast cancer, by providing them with priceless experiences and assisting them with financial difficulties.

For a first-hand account of how the charity have helped to enrich lives, read Karen Barnett’s story here.

Specialising in meaningful gifts that help people and communities worldwide in need, CAREgifts allows you to give a thoughtful gift tailored to your recipient’s interests and values. In return, you’ll receive a beautiful Christmas card adorned with an illustration by an artist.

Gift a toy or charity Christmas card to a loved one through The Fred Hollows Foundation. In return, you’ll support valuable treatment and operations ending avoidable blindness and vision impairment in the Pacific.

For over 30 years, Kmart has partnered with The Salvation Army to for its Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal.

Kiwis wanting to get involved can choose a practical gift for children, youth, adults or the elderly and visit their local Kmart store to place it under the Kmart Wishing Tree. With the challenging cost of living, recommended presents include backpacks, headphones, games, beauty products, and gift cards.

Looking for an unforgettable Christmas gift? A ticket in the Heart Foundation Lottery could win you or a loved one a brand-new, fully furnished Jennian home in Clarks Beach, Auckland – valued at over a million dollars. Tickets are just $15 each and help fund life-saving heart research.

Dave Letele’s BBM Motivation movement and Middlemore Foundation have teamed up to put Kidz First this Christmas. They aim to support as many South Auckland families with disabled or sick children as possible and give them the Christmas they deserve.

You can donate to the cause, gift a Christmas decoration, or buy a Christmas gift for a Kidz First patient.

In a perfect world, every child should have access to books and literature. Give the gift of new books to children who struggle to access quality literature. Donate books in person or online.

Purchase an Entertainment app membership for yourself or a loved one and save on dining out, takeaways, activities and more. Even better, 20% of every membership purchased will support the New Zealand Red Cross.

The entertainment locations include Auckland, Waikato/Bay of Plenty, Wellington/Manawatu, and Canterbury.

South Island label Perriam has designed a beautiful organic cotton t-shirt to raise funds for The Nest Collective, a volunteer charity providing free baby essential packs for whānau in need across Aotearoa.

The special-edition t-shirt features a delightful bunny illustration by local wildlife artist Madison Coulter, and is available in sizes from 3 months to 4 years. $10 from each t-shirt sale will be donated to The Nest Collective.

The cost-of-living crisis means even working parents are struggling to make ends meet – and that doesn’t include the cost of Christmas. You can help put a smile back on a child’s face by making a donation to The Salvation Army today – however small – because little things can mean a lot to Kiwis in need.