MORE than 300 gifts have been donated to this year’s Ray White Christmas gift drive in Swan Hill.
For the third year, Ray White Swan Hill have continued the giving tradition, partnering with Mallee Family Care to assist disadvantaged families and children across the region.
“We’ve had a lot more business and workplaces come on board this year whereas in the past, it has predominantly been families and individuals involved,” Ray White principal Cameron Smits said.
“Central Murray have dropped off a lot of bags and a lot of community groups decided instead of doing their own Kris Kringle, to buy and give something to those in need such as the Swan Hill Fire Brigade Ladies Auxiliary.”
Mr Smits said the gift drive had also encouraged parents to educate their children to think of those less fortunate at Christmas time.
“It’s been really good seeing the parents come in and and explain to their kids that not everyone gets presents at Christmas, and then seeing them come back with gifts they have bought down the street to put under the tree,” he said.
Mr Smits said a “good range of gifts” had been donated for 0-18 year olds that will be distributed by Mallee Family Care next week.
“It’s not dominated by toys with lots of teen/tween stuff that can often be hard to buy,” he said.
“We’ve had everything from perfume, to wallets, Sherrin footys and cricket sets.”
The final gifts will be collected from the Lake Boga Newsagency, Lucky Phil’s Tooleybuc and Burton’s Store Nyah today.
Ray White principal Fiona Hawley thanked the community for being so generous in this year’s drive.
“On behalf of Ray White Swan Hill, we’d like to say a huge thanks to the community for being involved,” she said.
“Each year, Ray White traces the gift drives around the country and Swan Hill considerably outpaces other areas.”
Mr Smits described the generosity as the “country way”.
“It’s just what you get in regional communities, everyone supports each other and it’s a really nice feeling.”
Ray White has run the gift drive since 2012, with more than 300 offices collecting 30,000 gifts last year.
