An African Christmas song echoed through the shopping aisles of Waratah Shopping Village last week, with the themes of giving and hope resonating with shoppers.
Students from St Philips Primary School, Waratah sang the carol as part of Kmart’s Christmas festivities, which launched its annual Wishing Tree appeal for another year.
The appeal is Australia’s largest Christmas gift appeal and has distributed more than 4.14 million gifts to needy Australians over the past 20 years.
This year it aims to give 350,000 gifts nationally to the people, who may otherwise miss out.
Kmart Waratah hopes to out do the 1478 gifts donated last year at its store.
Loie Ferguson, Kmart Waratah’s Wishing Tree Champion, said the appeal donated to a number of welfare organisations.
“It supports the Salvation Army, the Smith Family and Barnardos plus many more.
“We always get a good response – from bikes all the way through to the little things – it’s phenomenal.
“The gift doesn’t have to come from our store; it can come from anywhere, and we also accept cash donations.”
If you would like to participate, you can place a gift under the tree, wrapped or unwrapped, and tag it with the app-ropriate gender and age group.
Donations can be made in store at Kmart Waratah, Kotara and Glendale.