QR Reds help launch Salvos Christmas Appeal
QR Reds players joined boys from Nudgee College to help the Salvation Army “kick off” the 21st Kmart Wishing Tree - Australia’s largest Christmas gift appeal.
Reds Mark McLinden, Will Genia, Ben Lucas and Blair Connor, along with Coach Phil Mooney, lined up with players from the Nudgee Rugby UK Development Tour squad to provide a 21 football salute to mark the appeal's 21st birthday and launch the 2008 appeal.
Queenslanders are urged to continue their long-standing support of the appeal by giving generously to those in need, particularly given The Salvation Army expects a record number of people to seek their assistance this Christmas following the growing pressures brought on by the economic downturn.
Salvation Army’s Major Wayne Maxwell - Divisional Commander for South Queensland - and a Salvation Army band helped participants get in the mood, while Santa (Chris ‘Buddha’ Handy) orchestrated the massed kick-off.
The Kmart Wishing Tree has collected more than 4.14 million gifts over the past 20 years.
To contribute, simply leave a gift under the Christmas Wishing Tree located at the front of any Kmart store. Take a gift tag from the tree to identify the appropriate gender and age of a suitable recipient and place it with your gift. Alternatively, donors can make a cash contribution at any Kmart store register. Cash contributions will be converted by Kmart into Kmart gift cards, allowing appeal recipients to choose their own Christmas gift. Gifts will be distributed by The Salvation Army to people in need.
The 2008 Appeal will run until Christmas Eve.
