Events
- Friday 1 November - Christmas Appeal virtual launch. (Click here to register)
- Wednesday 13 November - Food Hamper packing day
- Thursday 21 November - Food Hamper packing day (VOLUNTEERS - FULL)
- Friday 22 November - Food Hamper packing day (VOLUNTEERS - FULL)
- Monday 25 November - Collection day for food hamper donations
- Sunday 24 November - Giving Stand @Singleton Markets
- Wednesday 27 November - Food Hamper packing day (VOLUNTEERS - REQUIRED)
- Friday 6 December - Susan Roskell Toy Drive collection day
- 4-7 December - Gift Giving Tree @ Stockland Green Hills
- Tuesday 10 December - Last day for gift/toy collections @ Drop-off locations
- Wednesday 11 December - Drop-off gift/toy/gift card donations to Carrie's Place
- Friday 13 December - Gift hamper packing day (VOLUNTEERS - FULL)
- Monday 16 December - Gift hamper packing day (VOLUNTEERS - REQUIRED)
- Tuesday 17 December - Gift hamper packing day (VOLUNTEERS - FULL)
- Wednesday 18 December - Gift hamper packing day (VOLUNTEERS - FULL)
Volunteering
Carrie's Place are seeking the following volunteer roles:
- General Christmas Elves - organising donations, admin tasks, shopping, gift/toy collections
- Food Hamper Elves - Packing food hamper boxes.
- Gift Hamper Elves - Packing gift and toy hamper boxes.
All volunteers will be required to complete paperwork and have ID checks. Check out event dates for all External events and packing days. General Elves can offer any dates.
Want to host a donation drive?
This year, we are asking all organisations and community groups to register their donation drive with Carrie's Place by clicking the link above. This is for gifts/toys, gift cards or monetary donations (or a mixture of all). This allows us to provide promotional materials and social media exposure.
IMPORTANT: If you are collecting money (or donating money to a third-party) on behalf of a charity, please ensure that you/they have a Letter of Authority to Fundraise.
Become a Donation Drop-off Partner
If your organisation would like to get involved and become a Donation Drop-off Partner for gifts and toys, please complete the form above. Carrie's Place will provide you with promotional materials and will list your organisation's details here.
Drop-off Locations & Partners
- Carrie's Place - Level 1, 116 High Street, East Maitland NSW 2323. (Monday - Friday, between 9:30am-4pm).
- Readers Cafe & Larder, East Maitland (East Maitland Library - 3 Garnett Road, East Maitland)
- Stockland Shopping Centre, Green Hills (Ground Floor near H&M - from 4th December)
- Chemist Discount Centre, Thornton (2/5 Poynton Place, Thornton)
- Life & Style @Lorn (32A Belmore Road, Lorn)
- Paterson Valley Community Preschool, Paterson (Webbers Creek Road, Paterson)
- Tillys Play & Development Centre, Gillieston Heights (3/3 Redwood Dr, Gillieston Heights)
- WaterWorx Swim Centre, Rutherford (15 North Mall, Rutherford)
- Commonwealth Bank, Cessnock (131 Vincent Street, Cessnock)
- Cattle Dog Cafe & Florist, Muswellbrook (58 Bridge Street, Muswellbrook)
- Artefact Heritage & Environment, Mayfield West (Unit 71, 8 Spit Island Close, Mayfield West)
Food Hampers - a different approach this year
This year we are taking a different approach with Food Hampers. We anticipate the growing need to provide more staples and supplies per families, to sustain them for a longer period.
We are currently seeking financial support, so we can purchase these in bulk; doing more, with less. The current price per hamper is approx. $79 and we estimate needing 250 hampers this year. However are still taking donations of non-perishable foods and Christmas treats (such as bon bons, Christmas puddings and chocolate/lolly stockings), as we can make and added items to hampers.
Food Hamper packing days - listed above.
Toy & Gift Hampers
We support children from 0-19 years of age, both boys, girls and non-binary children. We support Mums, Dads and Grandparents with many clients living in multigenerational homes, as well as those with special needs. Here is a list of gift ideas that might help when shopping.
- Sporting equipment
- Art and craft supplies
- Lego
- Playing cards and board games
- Puzzles
- Books - for all ages
- Colouring in books - for all ages
- Caps and hats
- Backpacks
- Lunch boxes and drink bottles
- Beach towels
- Children's beauty & hair products
- Baby dolls and teddy bears
Items that require batteries can sometimes be a challenge, as batteries can be expensive.
Teen and Adult Gifts
Each year we struggle with not having enough gifts for teens and adults, so we are seeking support for donations of;
- Body wash packs
- Deodorant and shower gel packs
- Hand cream and body lotions
- Beauty and makeup packs
- Christmas chocolate or lolly stockings
- Mindful colouring
- Caps and hats
- Socks
- Beach towels
- Timezone gift cards
- Movie gift cards
- Gaming vouchers
You now have the option to donate funds with a purpose, taking the shopping time out of it.