Hundreds of Kiwi children will receive something special this Christmas thanks to Ryman Healthcare’s decision to support the Catalytic Foundation’s Christmas Shoebox Project.

Instead of giving individual gifts to residents and team members, the idea was to redirect those funds to support struggling New Zealand families having to cut back on essentials.

Ryman residents were overwhelmingly in support of the idea, with many volunteering to help choose the gifts to fill over 1000 shoeboxes with thoughtful items.

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William Sanders Village resident Glynne Cockerton said: “We were so supportive of this fantastic idea and it was so much fun filling the boxes.

“We’re very aware that there are people in need, especially at this time of year, so we were thrilled at the opportunity to help.”

Dozens of shoeboxes were delivered to Ryman’s 40 villages up and down New Zealand in October, with guidelines for gifts to fall into the following categories – something to love, something to play with, something for school, something to wear and essential items such as toiletries.

Many residents used their crafting skills to make something special to gift too. Grace Joel residents Margaret Cresswell and Pam Savidan knitted cute little Santa tags which can double up as Christmas tree decorations, while fellow resident and wood turner Tom Pearson made spinning tops to include.

Miriam Corban Village residents went the extra mile, gifting colourful backpacks filled with goodies as well as their shoeboxes.

TVNZ's Matt Gibb highlights the Shoebox Project at William Sanders Village

Ryman also decided to highlight the Shoebox initiative during its sponsored spot on TVNZ’s Breakfast show with Matt Gibb, with dozens of donations worth thousands of dollars pouring in as a result.

Catalytic CEO Teresa Moore said: “This stimulated a great response for us.”

“This has been our biggest year yet in terms of need, so it was great to have Ryman come on board early as it means the charities have already got their boxes for distribution in plenty of time.”

Teresa said it had been particularly good to connect with Ryman residents: “The residents have been amazing, they’ve told us how much they have enjoyed it.

“And they have been so generous, we’ve filled so many more boxes thanks to residents donating extra items.”

This means that as well as the 960 boxes originally distributed to villages to fill, a further 200-plus boxes could be filled, all going to Kiwi children via 18 different charities.

These charities are:

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

SuperGrans

Heart Kids New Zealand

Bellyful

Women’s Refuge

Birthright Hawke’s Bay - Child & Family Care

Taku Mamia Trust

Cancer Society

Epilepsy New Zealand

Loving Arms Charitable Trust

Burwood Hospital Champion Centre

Big Brothers Big Sisters

Plunket

Pregnancy Infancy Parenting Support

Kidz Need Dadz

Early Childhood

Rachel’s House Trust

Life to the Max Trust

Ryman’s Chief Operating Officer Marsha Cadman was thrilled with the outcome: “The response from our residents in helping with this initiative was truly wonderful.”

“We’re delighted to spread some festive cheer to Kiwi families in need this year and I’m so grateful to our residents who joined us in making a difference.”

Top photo: William Sanders Village residents Eric and Glynne Cockerton with the team from the Catalytic Foundation - CEO Teresa Moore, Communications Lead Jacqui Barker and Admin Assistant Yardley Barker.