A Canberran is giving back by helping others through supporting the Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal – and as a volunteer with the Salvation Army.
A user of the appeal herself, Layla Arrow, 31, is a domestic violence survivor, mother of three and community volunteer.
Lee-Roy Arrow is now 9 and the twins, daughter and son Isabella and Riley Arrow-Devir, are 20 months old.
Ms Arrow said while Christmas was a special time, it could also be a vulnerable time for those who didn’t have much.
“While you might not want to ask for help, sometimes you have to, and that’s okay,” she said.
In a decades long annual tradition, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese recently launched the appeal by placing the first unwrapped gift of this year’s appeal under the dedicated tree at Parliament House.
Anyone wishing to support the appeal can drop off an unwrapped gift at any Kmart store, make a financial contribution online or in-store, or purchase Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal Christmas products at Kmart until 24 December.
The gifts do not need to have been purchased from Kmart and must be unwrapped.
Ms Arrow said the appeal offered gifts, hampers and vouchers to struggling low-income households.
With her then 7-year-old son several years ago, Layla had to stop working. With the holiday season around the corner, she had to make sacrifices, making her unable to provide Christmas gifts for her son.
She turned to the appeal, and one of the gifts she was given for Lee-Roy was LEGO.
“It just lightens the load a little when you’re not coping financially. The expectations for Christmas these days are really high,” Ms Arrow said.
“When I was experiencing family violence, I wasn’t able to get anything, so this allowed me to have something special to open with my son and start our day together on a positive note.
“I remember the joy it brought my son being able to build that with me because he was learning how to build LEGO – just the bonding, we were able to bond before we went out.
“Because they gave me a gift voucher that also allowed me to afford fuel to take him out to the Cotter (River) for a swim.
“That also allowed us the money to afford to buy breakfast and stuff. It just felt wonderful.”
That tradition continues to this day, with breakfast every year being waffles and ice cream.
For more information on the appeal, visit kmart.com.au/kmartwishingtree
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