The Helping Families Nelson toy sale was a smooth operation this year, with families paying $5 to fill a shopping bag with second-hand toys.
Last year the charity held a Christmas shopping giveaway and were swamped by more than 500 people heading through the door to get free toys, with aggressive behaviour from some. This year, manager Rochelle Iremonger says everyone paid $5 for a bag of toys and Christmas decorations, and it all went well.
“There wasn’t as many people as last year and it was great. It ran smoothly.”
Leftover second-hand toys went to the Te Korowai Trust to give away at a free event in Nelson. Rochelle says more toys are being donated to Helping Families Nelson from local businesses to help fill its Operation Joy gift bags. This year, the charity is providing a pillowcase filled with new gifts to children who have been nominated by local agencies because they might otherwise miss out on Christmas gifts.
She says New World Stoke is collecting new toys, food and money from customers, then “more than matching” the value for the charity, while Mitre 10 and Kindness Collection has a collection underway for the charity, plus Toy World and More FM.
“I’m blown away. They’re really getting behind the community.”
