COMMUNITY

Wednesday 4^th November

For immediate release

Wests & Big Yellow Umbrella launch the 2020 Giving Tree to benefit families in need

Wests Group Macarthur has once again partnered with local charity Big Yellow Umbrella in support of families in need over Christmas with the 2020 Giving Tree Appeal running until Sunday December 6th. The partnership to support the Macarthur community encapsulates the Big Yellow Umbrella vision ‘’Connecting Community Everyone Everywhere’ and Wests Group strategy to empower our community with social support, education, and donations to ensure the needs of individuals, and families are met.

Wests Group and Big Yellow Umbrella are encouraging the community to donate new, and unwrapped Christmas gifts for children of all ages by placing gifts underneath the Giving Trees, set up across all Wests Group Macarthur venues, including West League Club Leumeah, Country Club Gledswood Hills, Lakeside Golf Club Camden, Wests Tennis Club as well as other locations including Narellan Town Centre, Narellan Bunnings, Storage Kings and some local schools.

Big Yellow Umbrella works across the Macarthur region through expressions of interest to ensure the Giving Tree initiative delivers to those most in need and directly assists those connected to community services in the lead up to Christmas. These services include but are not limited to the Tharawal Brighter Futures program, FACS Campbelltown, Wollondilly Children’s Services, Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard, Benevolent Society and Healing House. Through last year’s program, gifts were also extended to the local police command for delivery to families affected by local bush fires.

To ensure the initiative is covid safe. Gift tags are available on the trees at all venues however those donating gifts will not need to write on the gift tags or attach to their gifts. All gift sorting into age and category will be done by the Wests and Big Yellow Umbrella team. Cash donations are also welcome via reception at Wests Venues should people wish to have a present purchased on their behalf.  In 2020, the categories also include Gifts for adults as well as items that can help toward creating a lovely Christmas day including tableware and decorations. In recognition of the tough year felt by many a suggested gift limit of $20 applies.

Suggested Gift categories are as follows:

• • Baby 0-12 month
  • Preschool Girl
  • Preschool Boy
  • Child Boy
  • Child Girl
  • Tween Boy
  • Tween Girl
  • Teen Boy
  • Teen Girl
  • Adult Female
  • Adult Male
  • Christmas Day items including tablewear, bon bons, decorations (that can be kept YOY) by families who are struggling)
  • Self Care items such as toiletries, creams, nail polish, hair packs

Kim Landouw from Big Yellow Umbrella shares;

“This year at Big Yellow Umbrella we have seen a significant increase in need for food hampers and service provision and can estimate the need for gifts will be at an all-time high due to the impacts of Covid-19. After a year of so many challenges, isolation, and emotional and financial stress, we expect the Christmas period will possible be one of the hardest times some families have ever faced. This is an important initiative to put smiles on the faces of those who really need it.

Following gift collection period, Wests invite community volunteers to join them for the Giving Tree Gift Wrapping Day, taking place at Wests Campbelltown on December 8^th and whereby all donated gifts will be packaged up and presented to Big Yellow Umbrella for distribution in time for Christmas Day.

On partnering with Big Yellow Umbrella in 2020, Wests Group Chairman Alan Buxton comments

“It is an honour to once again partner with Big Yellow Umbrella Giving Tree to deliver joy to those that need it most, especially after the most challenging of years. Through the generous donation of gifts, we can give disadvantaged families and children in Macarthur the chance the experience excitement and joy of Christmas. We appreciate our wonderful members and the wider community who no doubt will get involved and contribute to the Giving Tree in any way they possibly can.

Together, the initiative delivered over 700 presents through 2019 to some of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged families in the region. Kim Landouw Says “The gifts assisted so many vulnerable children and families during a time in their life when things were unstable. The feedback was overwhelming with many saying they got to experience the love and support from the community by having a wonderful new gift come Christmas. We hope to be able to do that again”

For more information on our community support endeavours please visit www.westslc.com.au

Thank you,

Wests Group Macarthur