[VIDEO] Hawthorne | This Local Lady is Making a Difference This Christmas

By Shannon Edwards // Place Bulimba  

For many of us, Christmas is a time of joy to celebrate with friends and family, indulging in food and drink and being spoilt with gifts.

Sadly, for vulnerable children all over Australia, Christmas can be a terribly sad time and a stark reminder of their lesser fortunes.

One of our very own Place agents, Carla Haddan, is helping make a difference, teaming up with Lighthouse Care and Bravehearts, she has targeted the area of Logan with the mission to give disadvantaged children a Merry Christmas.

The kids are required to write a wishlist to Santa, nominating ‘something they want, something they need, something to wear and something to read’.

Carla has found hundreds of ‘Santa’s helpers’ around the community to source these gifts for the children. This is now the third year Carla has contributed to the charity!

“In the first year, we had 115 gifts, the second year we had 135 and this year we’re proud to say 215 beautiful children will be receiving gifts from Santa,” says Carla.

We witnessed this ourselves. Carla’s kitchen, living room and garage were chock-a-block with masses of presents neatly packaged in Christmas wrapping.

“Some of us are so incredibly blessed and it’s so important to help others who are less fortunate. After all, Christmas is all about giving, not receiving,” she says.

One of the ladies who has been positively affected by the charity is the lovely Epenesa Aitofi whose six children were recipients of a gift in previous years.

To show her gratitude, Epenesa came along to give a helping hand. At this time, we asked what the charity has means to her.

What you’re about to watch is truly heartwarming.