16 ways to give back this Christmas

Run by the Kindness Collective, The Christmas Joy Store is New Zealand’s first social toy store that provides children with the dignity of choice of gifts and treats. As the Kindness Collective is finding as many toys to give to children nationwide as possible, you can donate a new toy at select drop-off locations or give a monetary gift online.

For further information, read all about the founder, Sarah here

Beloved animal charity Pet Refuge has partnered with iconic Kiwi toy brand Buzzy Bee to create the first-ever Buzzy Bee soft chew dog toy and cat wand.

These playful gifts are ideal stocking stuffers for the family pet, and the profits go directly towards caring for vulnerable animals whose owners are escaping family violence.

Six years since its departure, the viral Kiwi Firefighters Calendar is back. Featuring 12 current and former serving firefighters from around Aotearoa, all profits are donated to Movember, a charity that funds men’s health projects like mental health and prostate cancer.

While many Kiwi families soak up the sun these holidays at the beach, some face a very different festive season. For families with children who are ill or injured, and who need life-saving treatment or surgery these holidays, RMHC New Zealand becomes a ‘home‑away‑from‑home’. This year RMHC NZ is expecting a record number of Kiwi families needing support – possibly more than the 500 that stayed at one of RMHC NZ’s facilities during the holiday season last year. 

The CEO is asking Kiwis to ‘gift a night’. From $50, you can support families in need.

The cost-of-living crisis means even working parents are struggling to make ends meet – and that doesn’t include the cost of Christmas. You can help put a smile back on a child’s face by making a donation to The Salvation Army today – however small – because little things can mean a lot to Kiwis in need.

Each year theMiddlemore Foundation fundraise for Kidz First Chistmas, supporting as many South Auckland families with disabled or sick children as possible and give them the Christmas they deserve.

You can donate to the cause, gift a Christmas decoration, or buy a Christmas gift for a Kidz First patient.

Looking for a cuddly way to give back this Christmas? This Christmas, Kmart’s Kenzie Bear is here to spread Christmas cheer. Kenzie Bear is a heartwarming limited-edition plush toy bound to bring smiles and make a difference in the community this Christmas. Available both online and in-store, for every Kenzie Bear purchase, $2 will be donated to the Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal, helping to create a brighter future for families in need. Each Kenzie Bear has an embroidered 2025 detail on its foot. 

This year you can also purchase Kenzie’s Night Before Christmas Book, perfect for bedtime reading in the countdown to Christmas.

Tōtara Hospice provides comfort, dignity and compassion to those facing the end of life, and to their whānau who walk alongside them.

Donate any time online, or this Christmas you can support their Trees of Remembrance appeal. This year they celebrate their 5th annual Tōtara Hospice Christmas Night Markets, an evening of joy, connection and giving back.

Last year more than 9,000 potentially lifesaving missions were flown by the national network of rescue helicopters. The Westpac Chopper Appeal runs year-round and it’s easy to donate to contribute to keeping communities around the country safe this holiday season.

Sweet Louise aims to improve the quality of life for Kiwis battling terminal breast cancer, by providing them with priceless experiences and assisting them with financial difficulties.

For a first-hand account of how the charity have helped to enrich lives, read Karen Barnett’s story here.

Specialising in meaningful gifts that help people and communities worldwide in need, CAREgifts allows you to give a thoughtful gift tailored to your recipient’s interests and values. In return, you’ll receive a beautiful Christmas card adorned with an illustration by an artist.

Gift a toy or charity Christmas card to a loved one through The Fred Hollows Foundation. In return, you’ll support valuable treatment and operations ending avoidable blindness and vision impairment in the Pacific.

The KidsCan Christmas Cracker combines the thrill of an instant win with the spirit of Christmas giving. Each cracker includes a party hat, a range of jokes, and the change to win from a total prize pool of $120,000 worth of prizes. Click here for the retailer list to purchase or hit the button below to donate and help the 1 in 6 Kiwi kids who live in poverty.

Looking for an unforgettable Christmas gift? A ticket in the Heart Foundation Lottery could win you or a loved one a brand-new, fully furnished Jennian home in Clarks Beach, Auckland – valued at over a million dollars. Tickets are just $15 each and help fund life-saving heart research.

In a perfect world, every child should have access to books and literature. Give the gift of new books to children who struggle to access quality literature. Donate books in person or online.

Purchase an Entertainment app membership for yourself or a loved one and save on dining out, takeaways, activities and more. Even better, 20% of every membership purchased will support the New Zealand Red Cross.

The entertainment locations include Auckland, Waikato/Bay of Plenty, Wellington/Manawatu, and Canterbury.