Collecting Food & Gifts at Christmas
Get Resources to Share
Get digital lists of food and gifts to share with your team. You can also find posters to decorate your Angel Drop Off Zone and ideas for easy fundraisers!
What food or gifts are you collecting?
You can find a full list of suggested food and gifts under our Resources Section.
In general, we would love new unwrapped gifts for our tamariki ages 0-18 (no battery toys please) and in date non-perishable food for the pantry.
Where can I drop food or gifts off?
Due to this being an extremely busy time for our small team of drivers and trucks, we ask our Auckland Angels to please organise to drop off your collections. You can drop these either to us at HomeGround (parking available) or to a library.
HOMEGROUND: Wed 17th - Tues 23rd December (Mon to Fri only): You can drop off to us at HomeGround Angels Drop Off Zone at 140 Hobson Street, Auckland CBD between 10am - 4pm.
LIBRARIES: Dates TBC. If your collection isn't too big, you can drop it off to participating Auckland libraries (from Orewa right down to Papakura).
When are you open for drop off?
HOMEGROUND: 17th - 23rd December (Mon to Fri only):
You can drop off to us at our HomeGround Angels Drop Off Zone at 140 Hobson Street, Auckland CBD between 10am - 4pm. (Parking available).
LIBRARIES: Dates TBC
If your collection isn't too big, you can drop it off to participating Auckland libraries (from Orewa right down to Papakura). For a map of all Auckland libriaries, click here.
Is there parking available?
There are several "Angels" free parks at Wilson carpark next to HomeGround. Go into carpark and you will see the signs on the brick HomeGround wall. We aim to have Angel helpers to guide you to parks and help you with boxes from your car.
There is also limited parking right outside HomeGround.
Libraries will have their own parking guidelines.
Will you pick up my food or gift collection?
We are currently looking at a paid pick up option but can't offer pickups at this time.
If this is a limiting factor for you, please consider either dropping off to us at HomeGround or pick one of our fundraising ideas and donate virtually instead.
Donations go towards assisting whānau with food and wraparound support over the festive season.
Where do the food and gifts go?
We don't want any children to think that Santa has forgotten them, or families facing an empty table this Christmas.
A Christmas box of food and packages of gifts for each child will be offered to our current families supported by the Mission.
Many families will also need food after Christmas, so general food donations will also be included in our standard boxes of food and these will be distributed throughout the festive season.
Along with our marae partners, we are planning to assist 4000 people and families over December.
Christmas at the Mission
Do you do a Christmas day lunch?
Haeata - our Community Dining room - serves a hot meal 365 days a year to people experiencing homelessness. On Christmas Day we will provide our guests with an extra special Christmas meal.
Please note this service is not open for public bookings.
If you need food, please contact us 0800 223 663, Mon-Fri, 8.30-4pm.
Can I volunteer at Christmas?
Thank you for thinking of us! On Christmas Day we have enough volunteers for our meal in Haeata.
However, we always need help. If you are interested in helping pack boxes of food and gifts for families in the lead up to Christmas, email volunteer@aucklandcitymission.org.nz
Who are your marae partners?
Our marae partners over Christmas are Papakura Marae and Ngā Whare Waatea Marae in Māngere who support Aucklanders in greatest need in their local communities.
If you need assistance with food, you can find opening hours and phone numbers to call here.
How do I get help at Christmas?
Please call 0800 223 663 between Mon-Fri, 8.30am to 4.00pm if you need help with food.
Visit our main website to get full details on food, health or housing support.
Donating Funds
Where does my donation go?
All cash donations made to Auckland Angels will be used to purchase food and provide wraparound support to whānau over the festive season.
For a full breakdown on how the Mission uses donations, you can visit our Annual Report .
Will I get a charitable donation tax receipt?
If you make a donation to the Auckland Angels page, you should automatically receive a tax receipt for your donation.
If your donation is $5 or over, you will be able to claim 33% back from the Inland Revenue.
Please contact us at: receipts@aucklandcitymission.org.nz if you have questions about your donation.
Is it better to donate food or funds?
We sincerely appreciate all donations, whether it be gifts, good or funds.
Non-perishable food, hygiene items and gifts will be used towards the Mission boxes of food and gifts for whānau over the festive season.
Donations of funds go towards food and wraparound support for clients supported by the Mission.
Your dollar stretches further with the Mission as we have supply contracts enabling us to purchase food at a lower price than retailing in supermarkets.
