Auckland businesses are being called upon to donate festive food treats, non-perishable food items, cash and presents for children and teenagers as part of the appeal. This year the focus is on donations for 10 to 16 year old children who traditionally miss out on age-suitable presents in regular Christmas donation campaigns.

Now in its fifth year of support for the appeal, Urgent Couriers, the country's only carbon neutral courier company, is providing free pick up and delivery of donations from Auckland businesses to the Auckland City Mission. The aim is to ensure every Auckland child will have something to celebrate at Christmas this year.

Steve Bonnici, Urgent Couriers director said he was thrilled to be part of this campaign once again this year. "We're proud and excited to support the Mission's Christmas appeal, to make sure no Auckland kids are deprived of presents on Christmas morning."

"Auckland businesses have offered their overwhelming support to the appeal in the past few years, and we look forward to seeing them extend their helping hand again this year to spread the festive joy," Mr Bonnici said.

Urgent Couriers is sending out its drivers as registered Santa's helpers armed with donation packs consisting of a money box, a poster and a cardboard box to collect cash and presents. The collection drive will continue right up until Christmas Eve.

The Auckland City Mission's appeal results in thousands of presents every year for children who would otherwise go without any Christmas cheer.

Auckland City Missioner Diane Robertson believes the whole community needs to get behind this appeal to make it a huge success. "Urgent Couriers has shown its strong commitment to this cause in the past few years by partnering with the Auckland City Mission Santa's Helpers campaign," she said. 

"Christmas is a time of giving and sharing, and our kids deserve all the festive happiness. We all have a responsibility toward supporting this campaign." 

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Three easy steps for businesses to donate:

1.  Place the box for your donations in a prominent position at reception or a shared staff area.

2.  Let your team / employees know that you are getting a collections box together for the Auckland City Mission Christmas Appeal.

3.  Ask your team / employees to donate items such as:

• Festive food treats (chocolate, Christmas mince pies, bag of nuts)
• Presents for kids aged 10-16 (unwrapped)
• Any other non-perishable food items (i.e. canned goods)
• Cash.