The Kingborough Helping Hands Sharing Tree was officially opened at Channel Court, Kingston on Friday, November 24.
This marks the seventh year the Sharing Tree has been in operation here.
Craig Lucas from Kingborough Helping Hands (KHH) explained that the Sharing Tree was initiated by some St Aloysius Catholic College students writing to Kingborough Council seven years ago, requesting a giving tree be installed at Channel Court.
Kingborough Council agreed and the Sharing Tree has been placed here annually since.
The students were tasked to complete a persuasive writing assignment but seized the opportunity to make their schoolwork have a real impact on their local community instead.
Craig said 80 hampers were made in the first year of the Channel Court Sharing Tree but this year they anticipate up to 350 hampers will be made and over 2000 gifts given to community members in need.
Craig described himself as the ‘delivery guy’ of KHH, being responsible for the transportation of many of the hampers.
“I’m going to houses at the moment that have no food in the cupboards,” Craig said.
“Your support is supporting them.”
Kingborough Mayor Paula Wriedt attended the opening to give a speech and cut the ribbon.
Cr Wriedt thanked Kingborough Helping Hands, especially President Edna Pennicott as the ‘heart and soul’ of the operation.
Cr Wriedt said she was grateful to be the Mayor of such a caring community, with piles of gifts already at the foot of the tree on the day of its opening.
