Samantha is a mother, wife, friend, and finance professional living in Logan. She loves Christmas – seeing her kids’ joy as they wake up on Christmas morning and open their presents is a highlight of her year.
But in 2018 Samantha was struck by the growing need in her community where many parents were having to choose between food or presents at Christmas time. Samantha had experienced difficult times herself and was convinced that with the support of her large network in the finance industry together they could provide hope for many families doing it tough.
After researching community organisations she could partner with, Samantha found YFS and in December 2019 Samantha and a small army of volunteers organised personalised gifts for 273 YFS clients.
“I wanted the kids to be able to ask for what they really wanted,” says Samantha. “And not just get a generic present. So we created a template where kids listed something they want, something they need, something to wear, and something to read.”
Since then, the Santa project has grown to include four other community organisations and hundreds of donors from the Sunshine Coast through to northern New South Wales. Last year, YFS delivered Santa sacks to 420 children and Samantha’s team created a further 500 sacks which were distributed by other organisations.
The logistics involved creating this Christmas magic are enormous. After gifts have been collected from donors (who have previously been provided with children’s wish lists) volunteers join Samantha to organise, check, and pass the gifts on to community organisations for distribution to their clients.
“The volunteers include my husband, one of my good friends, and all my kids – we all put our work and social lives on hold for Santa Sack week. And lots of other people volunteer too, helping sort through the gifts and double check the kids have got what they wanted.”
Samantha is quick to point to the generosity of the donors and the kindness of the volunteers who donate their time each year to support their community.
“The gift donors – mortgage brokers, support staff and bank employees across South-East Queensland – they don’t receive any accolades. No one else knows where the gifts have come from. They do it because they care.”
There are countless stories of the impact the gifts have had in the community over the years, but a few stories have particularly stuck with Samantha.
“There was a teenage mum who only asked for things for her unborn child. The donor who received this list had also been a teenage mum and wrote a heartfelt letter letting [the client] know she would be an amazing mum and that everything would be okay. The donor also bought her things she didn’t ask for – just so she knew people still cared about her too.”
“And a teenage boy who, after receiving his sack from his Case Worker burst into tears and commented that no one had ever given him gifts before.”
For Samantha, giving kids and their families a tangible reminder that whatever their circumstances they aren’t alone – that’s what drives her to keep going.
“When a child is already dealing with life’s struggles knowing that someone in the world cares about them could be the reason for hope, the action that changes their outlook and puts them on a different path.”
