This Christmas as cost of living rises more and more people are going to struggle making the perfect Christmas for their family, and here is how spending £10-20 could make someone’s Christmas.
Growbaby is a children’s supply charity, throughout the year they provide support for many families across the country in a variety of ways, like support groups or providing necessary equipment needed for looking after a child. However, every year leading up to Christmas they take donations of new toys to give to families who can’t afford to get a gift for their child.
Tanya VanDalen works with Growbaby in Kingston and orchestrates all that goes on. She speaks with families, offers support, wraps the gifts, and basically looks after those in need within the local community.
She spoke about how Growbaby had developed since it began in 2023 when Peter and Noni Farrelly started with only two boxes of clothes in their garage. It grew from there, and now there are 46 outlets across the country. They are always located in a church and everything is always free, from a cup of tea to a new Christmas present.
VanDalen spoke about what she believes it does for the community. She said: “They are able to build a safe place where people feel like they belong and can “make friends with each other.”
It’s important to note that this isn’t just a charity for giving gifts at Christmas they work all year round having coffee, tea, lunch and other things like young mother’s support group or sewing groups. Tanya used the words “hanging out” a lot and I think that really embodies the charity, that it is a safe space for people to just gain a sense of familiarity and family.
VanDalen spoke about her favourite story while working at Growbaby. She said: “Last year I got a phone call after we had done all the distributing. It was my holiday already and my phone rang and it was a woman who had seen the sticker that says it was a gift from Growbaby. She googled Growbaby and found my number and she just called to say thank you for the gift, how did you know that’s what he wanted or needed?”
That day the social worker had arrived with that gift and VanDalen explained that the woman was just grateful that even though she had no idea the boy wanted that gift it found its way to him.
When asked if there were any specific gifts that they love to see. She recommended vouchers for the older kids, as when they go off to university or move out, they don’t necessarily have the money to go off to Ikea or TKMax and get all the items they need and for the younger children, different educational toys.
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