It might feel like the grinch stole Christmas for some this year, with a number of charities reporting the cost of living is hitting their communities hard. Photo: 123RF
It might feel like the grinch stole Christmas for some this year, with a number of charities reporting the cost of living is hitting their communities hard.
But for those who want to help fill some stockings, we have some tips on what you can donate to help someone have a Merry Christmas.
Food for feasting
Not sure whether you could donate a whole Christmas ham? The Salvation Army recommends donating non-perishable food items.
Auckland area officer Captain David Daly said currently tinned corned beef was particularly popular, "but any kind of canned goods is always appreciated".
Daly said nappies and personal toiletries were also needed. Christmas-themed treats would also bring festive joy.
The Salvation Army partnered with Countdown, accepting non-perishable food and household donations in its stores.
Daly said people could also donate money online, which enabled the charity to purchase food needed at their food bank centres.
Be a Secret Santa
For those wanting to donate a gift, brand new and unwrapped were the main requirements from the Salvation Army.
Nationally, Daly said people could drop a gift off at Kmart's Wishing Tree appeal. Gifts could also be taken into the Salvation Army or delivered through another local appeal.
Daly said they usually got plenty of gifts for younger children, but he encouraged people to remember the teenagers too when they were gift-shopping.
The Catalytic Foundation meanwhile was looking to add some sporty cheer to the holidays.
Ninety-eight percent of the 208 charities in its annual Community Needs Survey were seeing their communities greatly affected by the current cost-of-living crisis.
"Many children are living in households where parents are needing to make the heartbreaking choice between food or a gift at Christmas time", chief executive Teresa Moore said.
The foundation's Christmas Shoebox Project collected donated gifts, sport gear and essentials, which it gift wrapped and delivered to families in need for Christmas
It requested the items be brand new and "something to love, to play with, to wear, something for school and essential items like toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap etc".
One of its community partners, Ōtara Health Centre, said they were big on encouraging rangatahi to stay active year-round.
"However, the barrier for our community's tamariki to get involved in sports is often not having the gear/equipment in the first place," said operations manager Maddi Schmidt.
Some ideal items people could donate ahead of Christmas were books, toys, games and stationary, Free For All manager Dee Glentworth said. Photo: 123RF
The rise of pre-loved gifts
Porirua based store Free For All offered people the chance to pick their own gifts from donated items.
General manager Dee Glentworth said with the cost-of-living crisis and greater awareness of the environment, more people were becoming receptive to giving and receiving pre-loved items.
She said some ideal items people could donate ahead of Christmas were books, toys, games and stationary.
She said people coming into her shop were "wanting things to make their kids smile on Christmas Day".
But it was not just toys for the kids. Dee said socks and underwear - both new and secondhand - were also incredibly popular.
Treat items like cosmetics, candles and moisturisers were also on her list of recommendations.
"Anything really that's in good, usable, clean condition, I'm pretty sure we can find a home for it for Christmas."
Dee said Free For All also had a website where people could list items across the country.