GiftsForKids

Who are we?

Campbell Such

Husband, Father, Grandfather, Passionate surfer, previously General Manager IT for Bidfood NZ, and now owner of K9 Heaven - Country Club for Dogs.

Campbell grew up in Titirangi, walked barefoot to school, climbed trees, built tree-huts, started surfing at 12 years old and at 15 couldn't imagine life without surfing and he still has the passion - although now it's longboarding and learning the new skills of walking the board, nose riding and drop knee turns.

Admired his Dad for the way he was always there to help

Admires his Mum for somehow coping bringing up 3 kids a year apart each. Yikes it was 3 of us under 2years old at one stage.

Admired his Grandmother for the way she gave back her whole life. Even when she was diagnosed with Osteoporosis, she still did Meals-on-wheels until she couldn't drive any more.

He wants to make a difference giving something back and enjoying doing it - Gifts for Kids is one of those ways

How did you get the idea and then get started with Gifts for Kids?

Here's the story in Campbell's words:

The special magic of Christmas for me, as a young kid, was going to sleep (with great difficulty) on Christmas Eve with the wonder and anticipation of what would be in the pillowcase at the bottom of my bed on Christmas morning. Waking up at 5am all excited, peeking in the pillow case but not being able to touch. Knowing I had to wait till Mum and Dad said it was okay. Then finally, after what seemed like forever, getting the okay and breathlessly opening the presents.

Just before Christmas in 2012 it hit me. There were kids who didn't get a chance to experience that special magic I'd experienced as a kid. Whose parents (for what ever reason) couldn't afford to buy presents for their kids. I knew I wanted to do something to help. But what and how?

If we bought gifts, we couldn't just go and knock on doors looking for kids that would miss out. I couldn't just knock on someone's door and ask if they needed presents for their kids.

We needed to find someone, or an organisation, that would know who was in real need.

Els suggested Plunket. And suddenly it felt like we'd found the right organisation. But we had 2 problems: firstly it was only 3 weeks before Christmas in 2012 and secondly would they even be interested. I made the call to the Plunket Head Office in Wellington. The great news was that they were interested. We worked out that the initial area we wanted to support was West Auckland. It's where my roots are - growing up in Titirangi and surfing at Piha.

They put me onto Caro Watts in the Waitakere team and to her enduring credit said "I'll make it happen"

Imagine how you would have felt, dealing with someone who popped up out of the blue, 3 weeks before Christmas, wanting to buy, wrap and deliver gifts to needy kids.

And Caro's enthusiasm for the idea made it work in such a short timeframe!

The first year Els and I bought and wrapped the gifts and Plunket delivered them.

Then in the 2nd year, after getting us checked out (ie Police check etc), we bought the gifts and had a "gift wrapping night" with the Plunket team before going out on the Plunket bus to deliver the gifts in the week leading up to Christmas.

The goal was always to help add some of the special magic of Christmas, with the wonder and anticipation of a present to open on Christmas morning.

And the great feeling I get knowing I've made a difference and a bunch of kids get to experience a little of the specialness of Christmas that they otherwise wouldn't have....magic