Assembly 2000

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Right across Australia, the Christmas spirit is about to start today! The 9^th annual Families for Families Christmas Gift Appeal gets under way today at every Target & Fosseys store throughout the nation.

Simultaneous launches will occur in various locations across the country at lunch-time today, where a host of local identities, personalities, and the wider community will help to decorate the Gift Giving Tree, and then place the first presents under the tree.

For the next seven weeks, Australians will be at it again…giving presents to people they don't even know. But that is just how Target/Fosseys and UnitingCare, the community services arm of the Uniting Church, thinks the Appeal should work.

It's all about sharing the spirit of Christmas. At the front of every Target and Fosseys store across Australia a Christmas tree is waiting to receive gifts that will then be shared with people of all ages who are in need at this time of year.

"In the Year 2000, we're aiming for well over 100,000 gifts to be donated," said David Hall, UnitingCare's National Co-ordinator of the Christmas Gift Appeal. "Our wonderful local UnitingCare workers and volunteers will collect all the gifts from under the trees, and distribute them to families in need," he said.

"This campaign has a strong local community emphasis. Gifts are given from locals to locals. After having to turn people away last year when gift giving was down, we are hoping to raise over 100,000 smiles this year by sharing out that many gifts on Christmas morning."

"From Tassie to Townsville, Byron Bay to Busselton, this appeal will bring a sense of happiness to thousands of people, and a knowledge that someone out there cares for them, no strings attached, at Christmas."

A total of 267 Target and Fosseys stores nation wide are participating in the program - including Baby Target, Target Home, and Target Country.

This story from Esperance in Western Australia sums up what the Appeal is all about:

BACKGROUND

For the last eight years Target Australia, and subsequently Fosseys, and UnitingCare, the community services arm of the Uniting Church have operated the "Families for Families" Christmas Gift Appeal. Christmas trees have been placed in Target and Fosseys stores throughout Australia and the wider community has then been invited to place Christmas gifts under the trees for those in need. These gifts are then collected by local UnitingCare agencies or church congregations for distribution to people of all ages in the local area who would appreciate them most.

1992: Target Australia and the Uniting Church in Australia first organised a national Christmas gift appeal. The success of this initial venture encouraged both parties to continue with this important partnership.
1993: The theme "Families for Families" was introduced to help the community realise the need for a range of gifts suitable for all family members – not just dolls and teddy bears for small children. It prompted the idea of families giving to other families and also helped to distinguish the Target/ UCA Appeal from other similar Christmas appeals that simply collect toys for children.
1997: Fosseys stores across Australia joined the "Families for Families" appeal which has since allowed more Australians, especially those in rural areas, the opportunity to participate.
1999: The new umbrella name, UnitingCare, was first used, representing the extensive community service work undertaken by the Uniting Church.
2000 & beyond: The "Families for Families" Christmas Gift Appeal demonstrates a strong commitment to family values and to providing assistance and support in the local communities to which Target, Fosseys and UnitingCare belong.

UnitingCare
UnitingCare, the community services arm of the Uniting Church, is the largest non-government provider of community services in Australia. Among its best known services are the Blue Nursing Service in Queensland, LifeLine in several states, Do Care, Street Link in South Australia and hospitals such as Epworth Hospital in Melbourne. Across the country hundreds of smaller Uniting Church agencies provide emergency relief to the poor and homeless, help to families with troubled children and teens, assistance to the aged, drug and alcohol counselling and much more.

Target Australia
Target is one of Australia's leading and most respected discount retailers, with 138 stores nationwide, including 7 Target Home stores and 4 Baby Target stores. Target is a major retail employer, with more than 23,000 staff. It is particularly renowned for giving employment opportunities to young people, with many store staff going on to administrative positions and making a career at Target. Each year Target supports a number of community projects associated with children, family and health issues, which reflects Target’s philanthropic donations program.

Fosseys & Target Country
With 129 stores nationwide, which includes 54 Target Country stores, Fosseys has a strong presence in regional and rural centres, and provides a key partnership with Target Australia. Fosseys is a convenience retailer of apparel, homewares and variety merchandise, focussed on meeting the needs of the community and markets in which they operate.

Results of the Christmas Gift Appeal
The "Families for Families" Christmas Gift Appeal has been an outstanding success in the eight years that it has operated. Simplicity is the key. Giving a Christmas present to someone you don't even know. And those gifts are well appreciated. Right across Australia, our UnitingCare agencies tell amazing stories of relief and appreciation as they give out the gifts to those people who are looking just to survive, rather than celebrate Christmas.

Media release, UnitingCare (November 01, 2000)

Comment

Views expressed in any comments above do not necessarily reflect those of the Uniting Church in Australia.