Putting Christmas back on the table
by Metropol | November 12, 2025 8:33 am
In a frenzy of mounting financial pressures where even a block of butter can cost $10, one community-first charity is putting Christmas back on the table for families in hardship.
“Too many children would wake up without presents under the tree or food on the table, if it weren’t for the incredible generosity of Support a Family donors,” says Glenda Marshall, who coordinates the Christchurch Methodist Mission’s Christmas appeal. Its purpose? To bring joy to children and relief to their parents who are struggling to make ends meet. “At its core, Support a Family is a simple idea of giving and receiving. I match donors to families in need to provide them with a personalised hamper that includes gifts for the children and food items for a Christmas meal.” For 17 years, the appeal has connected generous donors with families that the Mission has worked with during the year to provide them hampers full of gifts and goodies. These donations remove layers of stress and feelings of disappointment, restoring the Christmas season to what it should be – joy, giving, and time with family.
In 2024, hampers were delivered to over 680 individuals including 377children – transforming what would’ve been a bleak Christmas into a beautiful one for those families. The impact is extraordinary. Sharing the difference just one hamper makes in lifting weight off their shoulders, many families send thanks to the Mission following Christmas. “After an extremely hard year for our whānau, the pressure it took off us at a busy time of year was so appreciated. Our children were so amazed by the kai and beautiful gifts, their reactions were magical. Your generosity made what was a very stressful time into the best Christmas,” one reads. Another parent told the Mission if it wasn’t for the donor family, “I don’t think it would’ve been possible for us to celebrate Christmas.”
Glenda, who has spearheaded the appeal into its now 17th year, has noticed more and more families who could do with a helping hand come Christmas. “Over this time, I’ve seen the need for support over the festive season grow in the community. And every year individuals, families, parishes and businesses have opened their hearts to our appeal, and responded with incredible kindness and generosity.”
Rally with us and ensure Christmas cheer is spread as widely as possible across Christchurch’s families and children. Leaving a cash gift makes all the difference in keeping hope and the festive spirit alive this Christmas. To find out more about Support a Family, visit supportafamily.nz.
Source URL: https://metropol.co.nz/putting-christmas-back-on-the-table/