Now, with more than 4.5 million gifts donated nationally, the K-Mart Wishing Tree is needed as much as ever.

The Waratah tree was officially opened for 2009 last Thursday, November 12.

Students from St Phillip’s Junior School, Waratah, entertained shoppers with Christmas carols before a surprise visit from Santa excited the singers and truly had them in the Christmas spirit.

Shoppers heard Lord Mayoress Cathy Tate thank the community for its generosity over the years and Captain Wendy Spindler from the Salvation Army told people of the need for their support this Christmas.

Ms Spindler said the Salvation Army would help more than 400 families in the Newcastle area this Christmas but only with help from the community.

“I think because of the recession, people have lost work and things are tighter this year than they have been in the past,” she said.

“There are a lot of people out there struggling and we need help to give them as nice of a Christmas as possible.”

To help the Salvos with its Christmas appeal, donations can be taken into participating K-Mart stores at Waratah, Glendale or Kotara.

Wishing Tree Champion and K-Mart Waratah employee Loie Ferguson said gifts could be purchased, donated from home, or hand made.

Or for the older kids, donations could be in the form of vouchers.

“I would tell people to bring something they would like to give their own children,” Ms Ferguson said.

“Gifts can be wrapped and ready to go or not.”

The Wishing Tree is officially open until Christ-mas Eve but if Santa is to get them delivered on time, people should get their gifts in as early as possible.