The Wellington City Mission Unveil Their New-Look ‘Christmas Star Appeal’
The City Mission aims to assist even more struggling individuals and families this Christmas season.
This week they unveil their new-look ‘Christmas Star Appeal’ designed to raise awareness and much needed funds for the
vital social services they provide throughout the Greater Wellington region.
‘Team Wellington City Mission’ has been created, in which eight well-known Wellingtonians are each championing a Mission
staff member – or ‘Mission Star’. Each Mission Star represents one of The Mission’s key services, e.g. Wellington
Phoenix defender Ben Sigmund is the ‘Champion’ for Maviz – who represents their Drop-in Centre, having served 16,437
meals last year.
Other Champions include: Jeff Toomaga-Allen, Ili Tugaga, Holly Whittaker, Stu Smith, Ruth Pretty, Simon Woolf and Rear
Admiral Jack Steer.
Wellingtonians are encouraged to show their community pride and “Be a Christmas star” to those most in need by finding
out about The Mission’s services, and donating online at The Mission’s appeal website – www.ChristmasStar.org.nz.
They can also Text vote for their favourite Team Wellington City Mission pairing, and/or Text to fill a virtual ‘Pack
the Bus’ - a new spin on an old favourite. Each Text provides a $3 donation for The Mission.
Other aspects of this year’s Christmas Star Appeal include the new ‘Star Car’ (travelling around the region from 10
November) which is equipped with mobile donation facilities, and a Street Day collection on December 5th. Perennial
favourites ‘Pack the Bus’ and ‘Workplace Christmas Star’ will be again collecting Christmas toys and food from generous
Wellington individuals, milies and businesses.
The success of The Mission’s Christmas Star Appeal will enable The Mission to help those most in need in the Greater
Wellington community. For many of their clients, Christmas can be the most distressing time of year, but a joyful family
Christmas can give those individuals and families the strength they need to face the coming year with hope.
Wellington City Mission Chief Executive Officer Michelle Branney says: “People regularly say to us ‘I didn’t realise you
deliver such a range of services to so many people throughout the region’. This year ee want to make known just how far
the gifts and donations from our supporters stretch. Sometimes the most modest contribution can make a huge difference
to someone who has very little.”
This year’s appeal has been embraced by a number of generous supporters and sponsors: The Wellington Firebirds,
Hurricanes and Phoenix, The Breeze, Whittaker’s Chocolate, Ruth Pretty Catering, Photography by Woolf, The RNZ Navy,
Datacom, Precinct Properties, Eftpos and Henshaw Signs.
The Mission are incredibly grateful for this support – an excellent example of Wellingtonians coming together to help
effect social change in our community.
During 2013-14, the Wellington City Mission: Gave out 3,445 food parcels, held 1,175 budgeting meetings, served 16,437
meals in their Newtown ‘Drop-in Centre’, made 930 home visits to families, provided 25,951 bed nights of accommodation
at Kemp Home & Hospital, supported 271 seniors, and their Alternative Education students gained 124 NCEA credits. In total, The
Mission contributes to the well-being of around 600 people every day.
Last Christmas, The Mission: Distributed around 1,200 Christmas food parcels and over 5,900 new toys and gifts to
Mission individuals and families, as well as clients from 32 other social service agencies, and on Christmas Eve over
100 families were personally delivered The Mission’s special ‘Christmas Day Hampers’, which include everything a family
would need to have a special day.
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