Rotary clubs bring a touch of Christmas to kids in care
Photo: Alexia Austin
ROTARIANS across the Darling Downs went on a Grand Central shopping spree yesterday morning, stocking up on Christmas presents for donation.
Six rotary clubs in Pittworth and Toowoomba raised a combined $10,000 to purchase presents for 583 children currently under care with the Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women.
Toowoomba Garden City Rotary Club president Peter Snow said the clubs renewed the fundraiser after its success last year.
“It went so well last year that the six clubs, along with the Toowoomba Rotaract Club, decided to pool our resources again,” Mr Snow said.
“We are a community-based service club and things like this, which have such a great and visible outcome, is money well spent.”
Mr Snow said it was “fabulous” to be able to select the toys alongside 20 other Rotarians and children.
Toowoomba South Child Safety Service Centre manager Shane Dore said the donation encompassed the true spirit of Christmas.
“Christmas can be a difficult time of the year for many families so we are delighted to be here today to receive this very generous donation,” Mr Dore said.
“Across southwest Queensland we have more than 1700 children in foster care and for some of these families the gifts will add a little bit of cheer to their Christmas - they will be in addition to those from our amazing foster carers.”
The gifts were presented to child safety officers and some of the children in care outside Grand Central Kmart after the big shop.