Generous Kaitaia community answers call to support families with Christmas gifts.
In a heartwarming show of holiday spirit, the Kaitāia community has come together to support one woman’s mission to bring Christmas cheer to families in need.
After taking care of Christmas for her family while living on the South Island a few years ago, Courtney Couper had a nagging feeling she could be helping other whānau in the same way.
She then found families unable to give their children Christmas and reached out to the community, which donated gifts, food and other goodies.
“When I moved home it had always been in the back of my mind to do the same thing.”
She posted on a Kaitāia Facebook group and two families reached out and together with the community, the two families will be blessed with gifts, decorations and food.
Couper said one family has two children aged 4 and 1 and the second family with five children aged 7, 5, 4, 2 and 1, recently moved and moving costs put a strain on their finances.
“They sat their kids down and told them they wouldn’t be celebrating Christmas this year.”
But thankfully, because of the donations, the families will now be able to celebrate.
“I waited until I knew there were going to be sufficient donations before I informed the mothers that there are enough gifts for them to celebrate Christmas this year. Both families were elated. They also expressed how their kids deserve to experience the joy of Christmas because they are good kids,” Couper said.
She said although the families expressed what their kids’ interests were, they also stated they would be happy with anything.
“One of the mums said that when she gets on top of things she wants to pay it forward somehow.”
The community responded swiftly to Couper’s call and donated well-used preloved goods, while others went as far as buying presents for the kids.
“The community looks out for each other and when they read that there were two families that weren’t able to afford Christmas, people wanted to help.”
The items collected include arts and craft toys, dolls, books and even a doughnut maker. A business in town even donated outfits for the girls and a restaurant in Mangōnui invited the family to dine for free on Christmas Day.
“I have a couple more places to visit before Friday and I have also ordered the kids a present each related to their interests to arrive in the next couple days.”
Couper will deliver the gifts along with wrapping paper ahead of the day, allowing the parents to wrap the gifts in their special way.
“I think it will be nice for them to be able to have the experience of knowing what’s under the tree and the excitement of wrapping the gifts on Christmas Eve.”
One of the mums said she felt lucky to have been “chosen and gifted with presents for our babies for Christmas this year… We are so over the moon and blessed that our kids can experience the joy of Christmas this year”.
The mum said one of her kids has a birthday on Boxing Day and is expecting, so finances were tight.
“I’d love to give a big thanks to everyone who ... took the stress off our shoulders. We are so thankful that our kids can open presents with all the other kids we surround ourselves with on Christmas Day. We thank each and every one of you for making our kids’ Christmas one to remember. We can’t wait for the joy it brings our kids on Christmas morning. Merry Christmas to all and thank you again Courtney and the Kaitāia Community.”
Couperfelt strongly about assisting as celebrating Christmas was a core memory for many children.
“I remember one year as a child my mum sat me down and told me that we wouldn’t be having Christmas that year because she couldn’t afford it. I remember waking up Christmas morning and feeling really sad.”
“The reality is that there are a lot more kiddies out there in the community that will wake up on Christmas Day and wonder why Santa hasn’t come to visit them. They likely won’t get the chance to believe in Santa at all. They will hear at school from classmates about what Santa brought them or what they got for Christmas and how are they going to feel?”
If anyone would still like to donate they can drop off to Harlen at Kaitaia Glass.