More than 2000 volunteers across New Zealand packed more than 29,000 Christmas Boxes for families in need this weekend. 

But charity, Christmas Box, is hoping to raise the remaining $250,000 to sponsor further 6250 Christmas Boxes for families in need this Christmas, bringing the total to a record 35,000 Christmas Boxes. 

Former All Black Eroni Clarke helps to pack more than 16,000 Christmas Boxes in Auckland. 

In Auckland, over 16,000 Christmas Boxes were packed by more than 1,000 volunteers, including former All Blacks Pita Alatini and Eroni Clarke.

Thousands more boxes were packed by volunteers across Rotorua, Whangarei, Tauranga, Palmerston North, Kapiti, Porirua, Tawa, Dunedin and Invercargill. More boxes will be packed next weekend in Kaikohe and Christchurch.

Angela Terrill recieved a Christmas Box last year.

Angela Terrill was one volunteer packing Christmas Boxes in Auckland.

She was gifted a Christmas Box last year after her partner passed away a few days before Christmas  and this came to the attention of a local church. She wanted to pack boxes this year to “give back and help other people in hardship”. 

“It made me feel like someone cared and it took the pressure off to have some food in the cupboard. I volunteered this year because I know how much difference it makes to someone going through a hard time.”

Rebecca So'e and Eroni Clarke.

Christmas Box Community Response Manager, Rebecca So'e (Ngāpuhi, Te Rarawa), said it was “the epitome of community serving community” and a “heartwarming expression of generosity”, with thousands of kiwis freely giving their time and money, sacrificing Black Friday sales. 

But she said they still need to raise $250,000 to fund the remaining 6250 Christmas Boxes for families in need, and is encouraging “generous kiwis” to donate a Christmas Box for $40 at christmasbox.co.nz. 

“There are always families in hardship that miss receiving a Christmas Box, which is why they are hoping to reach their goal of sponsoring 35,000 Christmas Boxes and reaching more families than ever before in 2024.” 

“With the cost of living as it is, we know of so many families who are looking at a Christmas of hardship and a real lack of hope. Many are solo-parents and households with disabilities, who are at the end of themselves trying to juggle how to buy presents and put food on the table, and there’s nothing worse as a kid than that feeling of missing out at Christmas. 

“These are families who have had wave-after-wave of mishaps sink them into hardship, but it just takes one little gesture from someone to infuse hope into their situation and remind them someone sees them and cares. Nobody should be hungry on Christmas day.”

So’e said each Christmas Box is packed with ingredients to create “shared meals and memories”. 

“I just love seeing the look on families’ faces when they receive a Christmas Box. They’re honestly in a state of shock that somebody thought of them and cares enough about them to do that. There’s a lot of emotion and tears, especially among the mums who are just at their wits end, and their kids run around with excitement and can’t wait to rip into it. It lifts their spirits because it’s just so unexpected.”

Gayleen Vashi, who has four children with her husband Angam, including a special needs son Samuel (9) who has down syndrome, received a Christmas Box last year. She said it was a “powerful reminder of love and community”.

“I want to say a heartfelt thank you to those who donate a Christmas Box to my family and families like mine. It made our Christmas special, especially for our children, and made it easier to meet costs over the Christmas season”. 

So’e saidshe never ceases to be amazed at how generous Kiwis are at Christmas. 

“I've experienced it first-hand and I’ve seen that given an opportunity Kiwis don’t hesitate to help others in need at Christmas, and that spirit of charity and generosity is a beautiful thing.

“Growing up, there was always space at our Christmas table for people in need in our community. A lot of parents and grandparents out there would have grown up the same, and though they may not be able to invite someone to their table, they might choose to donate a Christmas Box to bring hope to someone’s Christmas.”

Each $40 donation provides one Christmas Box filled with more than $60 worth of food, feeding a family of four to six.