Tree of Joy – Huge success
– Sue Raveane, Community Service Director, Crows Nest Rotary
In conjunction with Chatswood Rotary we ran the Tree of Joy at Chatswood Chase. The 2022 TREE OF JOY Committee would like to sincerely thank members & friends for their support in helping make the 2022 Tree of Joy such a fantastic success.
With your help and the overwhelming generosity of the community we were able to collect and distribute over 3,500 gifts, and over $11,000.00 in gift cards and cash donations to those in need at Christmas.
Here are a few of the messages of thanks from the following beneficiaries.
I just want to reach out to you and the rotary members for your constant hard work and dedication in providing support to Phoenix House Youth Services, not just during the holiday period but throughout the year. Once again, we were blown away with the generosity of the community who provided numerous gifts for our most disadvantaged young people. The expressions and smiles on their faces is a joy to behold and reminds us all, what some people take for granted, others welcome enthusiastically with open arms and the reason we continue to do the work we do.
Most of our young people did not have family or friends to spend time with at Christmas, however knowing that someone who they don’t know, had taken the time to think of them at this time helps build connection to community and gives them hope for a better future.
Can you please pass this on to your board and I would like to thank you personally for your contribution to community
Kindest regards
Neil Davies
Director of Client Services
Phoenix House Youth Services
Thank you to yourself and Rotary for all work you put into looking after the Tree of Joy before Christmas. The community work that Rotary do is truly amazing and we as a not for profit are extremely grateful for what you do and the difference you make to the community and those in need.
In receiving these gifts and vouchers means the world to our clients and it means for many people that they are able to have a joy filled Christmas and presents for their children which they may not have been able to have.
Regards
Margaret Datson
Senior Operations Administration
On behalf Mary's House Services, I would like to thank you for your continued support through the donation of vouchers and children's toys this year.
Because of your generosity, not only were we able to successfully distribute 24 Christmas hampers to our clients. But we will also able to distribute the donated vouchers to our clients throughout the entire year.
This is only possible because of thoughtful contributions from people like the Crow's Nest Rotary club.
Again, we thank you for your support and helping us succeed in our mission.
Below are some of the comments we have received from caseworker and clients.
"It will really help her over Christmas."
"My client was overwhelmed and had tears in her eyes when her three children received their presents."
"So generous and lovely"
"Her daughter was so excited. She felt very overwhelmed at the support as she is struggling financially"
Kindly,
Lili Greer Operations Coordinator
maryshouse.org.au
Once again Taldumande Youth Services would like to sincerely thank all of the Rotarians for your kind and invaluable support this Christmas, through the Tree of Joy project. We were able to provide every young person within our care with a suitable gift and they were absolutely delighted.
Someone was kind enough to give a leather Ralph Lauren wallet and the recipient was so thrilled, he has just turned 18 and started working and it was the perfect gift! Another young person was able to use one of the gift cards and buy the hair straighteners she'd been saving for!
All of the gifts were so gratefully received. The past few years have been tough, but our staff have worked diligently to promote positivity and self-care for every young person and family within our care. Without the support of community organisations such as the Rotary, especially at Christmas, it would be much more difficult to keep this positivity alive.
We realise the commitment and work that goes into this project and would like to thank each and every Rotarian along with the members of the local community who donated gifts. The kindness and generosity has been felt deeply and helped bring some joy to our young people and families this Christmas.
Kind regards,
Seonaid Thomas
Taldumande Youth Services