City Mission brings a bit of Hollywood to Wellington

This Christmas, The Mission is bringing a bit of Hollywood to Wellington’s waterfront.

The Wellington City Mission’s ‘Christmas Star Appeal’ starts on 2 November. The appeal will include the regular events – and one exciting new activity, the‘Christmas Walk of Fame’.

It’s a Hollywood Walk of Fame-style art installation that will be displayed on the Wellington waterfront, outside Te Papa, from 4-18 December. By making a donation, an individual, group, or business can get their name or logo on a star. Each star represents a family being supported this Christmas by The Mission’s wrap-around services – including food parcel assistance, in-home social work, and Budgeting Advice. The Mission aims to sell 500 stars.

The success of the annual Christmas Star Appeal helps keep The Mission’s services available now, and in the coming year, for Greater Wellington’s most vulnerable people. They’ll be able to continue paying the essential bills, avoid attracting increased debt, and feel connected to their loved ones and community. Those who are supporting are also bringing happiness to many people, and helping them feel valued and cared for.

Wellington City Mission Chief Executive Officer Michelle Branney said: “At The Mission we experience Christmas in all its intensity. Throughout the months of November and December, we do our best to ensure that the goodwill of the season is shared among those who may find this the hardest time of the year. Christmas can cause setbacks for parents who are struggling to provide, and amplify feelings of isolation for those who feel lonely at this time of year.”

Last November and December, The Mission was able to give out over 1,300 food parcels and 7,000 gifts throughout Greater Wellington – along with providing other year-round services.

On 2 November, The Mission’s special Christmas website,ChristmasStar.co.nz, will go live. It has everything people need to know about the Christmas Star Appeal, and all the ways to ‘be a star’ this Christmas.

Such activities include the ‘Star Car’, which will be back for its second year – but with a twist. After making a donation (via cash or eftpos) people can sign one of the thousands of stars that decorate it. It’ll travel around Greater Wellington, parking up in malls, supermarkets and Z Energy stations among other places, from 13 November.

The annual street collection, or ‘Street Day Appeal’, is on Friday 4 Decemberand coincides with the launch of the Walk of Fame. Last year’s collection raised over $40,000 on the day.

The iconic ‘Pack the Bus’, in partnership with The Breeze Wellington, will again be visiting schools and supermarkets throughout the region, collecting food and gifts, from 23 November to 4 December.

The Mission is grateful be the charity partner for Wellington’s DINEAID again, when it starts on 1 November.

ENDS

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