Operation Pinocchio under way

Gisborne Woodturners Club want to share the Christmas festival spirit with deserving young tamariki who have had a tough time.

President Lynne Boulter has started distributing wooden toys made by club members during the year and the first recipient of these was The Gisborne Herald to put under its annual front office Christmas tree.

This year The Herald is presenting the donated gifts to Te Whare Tu Wāhine Gisborne Women’s Refuge.

Gisborne Woodturners Club will also be donating to Te Hapara Family Services, the Salvation Army, Barnados, Planet Sunshine children’s ward at Gisborne Hospital and Hospice Tairāwhiti . . . around 100 toys in total.

“This is the first year we have supported The Gisborne Herald Christmas tree,” said Mrs Boulter. “But it won’t be the last.

“All year we work on wooden toys for a project called Operation Pinocchio. In December we decide which charities we will support. We love doing it and we love giving.”

During the year the club also made wig stands in support of the Look Good Feel Better programme and Gisborne-East Coast Cancer Society.

“A woman saw the wig stands in The Herald and asked for a pink one. We made one and donated it to her on Wednesday.”