Police from across Dunedin have donated 101 boxes to representatives from Te Hou Ora Whanau Services Otepoti, Presbyterian Support Otago and Pacific Trust Otago to spread Christmas cheer across the city.
Maine Mareko-Johnson, youth justice team leader at Te Hou Ora Whanau Services Otepoti, said the gifts would mean that "some of our families who are struggling, especially after Covid-19, get to have a good Christmas".
Te Hou Ora Whanau Services worked with families, providing parenting programmes, "wrap around" services for whanau, and support within the youth justice system.
"We’ve just had a graduation for our parenting programmes, so our workers will go and catch up with some of those families and deliver the boxes to the kids."
Senior Constable Toni Wall hoped to make the event an annual one.
"There’s a huge need in our community, and if it makes just one child happy that they get something for Christmas, then we’re happy."
The exercise had also been a positive one for police staff, she said.
"We attend a lot of distraught people, and people in need.
A lot of the time we’ve got a pretty negative rap because we’re seen as an enforcement agency.
"But to do something like this for our community, this huge effort — it’s awesome."
