A Christmas tradition for some families is to take a gift and place it under the Heartland Bank Christmas tree for Birthright Ashburton families.
Heartland Ashburton branch manager Andrew Wilson said they are proud to host the tree again this year, something the bank has done for more than two decades.
People are invited to leave a gift, which doesn’t have to be wrapped, under the tree for children aged from babies to 17-years-old.
All the gifts left under the Heartland Bank tree go to Birthright families in Mid Canterbury.
‘‘It’s great seeing children who placed gifts under the tree now coming back as parents with their children carrying on the tradition of giving,’’ Wilson said.
Wilson said hosting the tree is a way for the bank to give back to the community it served.
‘‘Our bank has been here since 1875 and it is good to be able to do something, even if is small like host a Christmas tree, to help out our community,’’ Wilson said.
Birthright supports one-parent families providing, support, advocacy and guidance, practical assistant and referrals to other agencies to assist in times of need.
Birthright Ashburton social worker Tracey Mabey from Christchurch began in the role a few months ago. She said she has been blown away by the generosity of people in Mid Canterbury towards her clients.
‘‘This year has been particularly tough for many of my clients; I am so appreciative of people who give to our organisation. When I give families the gifts there is delight on their faces,’’ Mabey said.
Receiving gifts to give to their children takes some of the stress off single parent families and helps them have money to start the new year where there are the costs of children returning to school.
Gifts that are popular include Lego, games, movie vouchers, toiletries and crafts. Mabey said they are particularly looking for gifts for teen males and females as well as parents.
‘‘We try to give parents gifts as well as otherwise they may not receive one at all,’’ Mabey said.
Seeing families reactions when they receive the items that the community gives Birthright reminds Mabey why she does the work she does.
At present Mabey is working with 25 families with some families having moved on from the services in recent times. She is receiving referrals and believes in 2026 there will be a jump in numbers of people accessing their service.
‘‘There are many in the community that don’t know about our service so I am getting out there to let them know what we do,’’ Mabey said.
‘‘There are new social service agencies coming to Ashburton, setting up offices here which shows there is a need to have the services and help for families in the community,’’ Mabey said.
– Gifts can be left at the Birthright Ashburton Christmas tree at Heartland Bank, 224 East St, Ashburton, until December 23.
