Presbyterian Support South Canterbury (PSSC) is on the search for Christmas Angels.
The PSSC Family Works Christmas Angel Project is now in its sixth year, and involves families, friends, work colleagues, groups or teams being matched with a local family in need for Christmas.
Last Christmas, 101 families were supported through the angels project by 86 donors, and PSSC is hoping to reach as many families again this Christmas.
Chief executive officer Carolyn Cooper said Family Works and other agencies invited to be a part of the project (Plunket, Multicultural Aoraki and Arowhenua Whānau Services) all put names forward of families needing some help this Christmas.
They include single-parent families, grandparents raising grandchildren and extended family living in the same household.
Families are matched to donors — who might be a family, workmates, or team — who receive a profile of the family they have been allocated.
The profile includes information about the number of adults, the ages of any children, some family background and gift suggestions.
How much donors spend is up to them — they can purchase all the gifts suggested, or a few.
Both the family and the donor remain anonymous throughout the process.
Local businesses Temuka Transport and Bleeker & Weith have once again come on board to cover the cost of running the Christmas Angels project, and this year have been joined by Craigs Investment Partners.
The focus of Christmas Angels this year is ‘‘It’s about the kids’’, and already 47 donors and 56 families have signed up for the project.
Mrs Cooper said she loved Christmas Angels.
‘‘It’s a special project and a heartwarming thing for PSSC to organise each year.
‘‘The families last year were so very grateful and overwhelmed by the generosity of their Christmas Angel gifter and the gifters felt really good to be able to help a real family in need.’’
Christmas Angels coordinator Erin Krivan said she loved seeing the smiles from the donors when they dropped their parcels off.
The social agencies involved would then take the gifts to the recipient families, ensuring the project’s confidentiality.
‘‘So while we don’t see families receiving their gifts, we know it helps so many families within our community enjoy Christmas.’’
The South Canterbury Chamber of Commerce is supporting the project this year by allowing their Canon St office to be the pick up/drop off point.
Those interested in signing up to sponsor a family this Christmas can register their interest on the PSSC website.
