MacKillop Family Services is one of five charities to benefit from this year’s Blacktown Mayoress Christmas Gift Appeal, complementing its own annual Christmas gift drive.
MacKillop Regional Manager, Nicole Gaffney, thanked Lady Mayoress Norma Bunting at a recent meet-the-charities event. “We are grateful for this support of our Blacktown work, and for the gifts that will go to our children and young people in foster care and residential care homes,” she said.
The Mayoress Appeal has run for more than 30 years, and Blacktown Council says the community’s response grows each year. “It’s phenomenal, the support that the everyday person gives to this appeal,” observed Blacktown’s Lady Mayoress, Norma Bunting. “We thank the people and businesses of Blacktown City for responding generously to the needs of others.”
“Last year we had to have two trucks, not just one, to collect all the gifts from the drop-off locations,” recalled Kevin Poilly, Blacktown Council’s Events & Sister Cities Manager.
The Blacktown Mayoress Christmas Appeal is collecting gifts for ages 0-16. MacKillop is collecting for children as well as those up to age 18. “We have 12 residential and therapeutic care homes in Western Sydney,” says Nicole Gaffney, “and I can personally vouch for the delight our young people have when they receive their presents. Many have come from difficult backgrounds where a gift at Christmas was far from the norm.
“MacKillop has 35 foster carers in Western Sydney, and the donated gifts are warmly welcomed. Carers already give so much to keep a child safe in their homes, and so these Christmas gifts help stretch the budget and spread the cheer.”
MacKillop Family Services invites the Blacktown community to make Christmas special for the children and young people in their care by donating a gift in one of two ways:
- Through the Blacktown Mayoress Christmas Gift Appeal: Unwrapped gifts for ages 0-16 to be placed at any of the drop-off locations listed on the Council’s webpage, now till 3 Dec 2025.
- Through the MacKillop Christmas Gift Appeal: Unwrapped gifts for children and young people up to age 18 to be dropped at the following address: MacKillop Family Services, Level 1, 38 Prince Street, Blacktown.
MacKillop Family Services is a national child and family welfare organisation with extensive experience delivering therapeutic and trauma-informed services. We operate residential care, foster care, family support, disability support, youth homelessness and education programs across NSW, VIC, WA, the ACT and the NT.
With thanks to MacKillop Family Services.
