Generous CrestClean personnel are helping to spread some festive cheer to Dunedin’s less fortunate families.
An office tradition of swapping small gifts among the company’s administration services staff was replaced by a collection of goodies for a local charity.
Rachael Hanna, who works at CrestClean Support Services in Moray Place, and helped to organise the collection, says it was a popular move.
“Instead of an office Secret Santa this year we decided rather than give small presents to each other we would give to someone in need.
“This idea was well received by our head office staff and has been well supported. It’s a good time of year to be thinking of others when there is so much need.
“Sadly for some people there is not a great deal of happiness at this time of the year.
“We collected up the donated gifts and goods and donated them to Presbyterian Support Otago, whose office is close by.”
The gifts will form part of Christmas hampers for nearly 200 local families, with some items going as far afield as Oamaru.
Jasmin Enright, the charity’s fundraising and volunteer coordinator, was on hand to receive the bag of presents from Rachael.
“We are supporting over 200 families during the Christmas period,” she says. “These are vulnerable families we have been working with anywhere between 2-16 months.
“Our services include social work, foodbank, emergency response, financial mentoring, parenting support, youth development and community development programmes.
“The services we provide to support these families is free to them as we are a charity that relies on donations and fundraising to operate.”
Jasmin says support from the business sector, whether monetary or a Christmas gift, was gratefully received and would make a difference.
“The feeling of giving Christmas donations is a lovely warm and fuzzy one.”
