ONE-hundred and fifty-five local children in need will each receive a shoe-box of gifts this Christmas as a result of the Boxes of Joy campaign.<\/p>\n
Twelve volunteers from the YMCA and wider Ballarat gathered at the Delacombe Community Hub to fill and wrap boxes of donated presents on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Jessy Malham, the founder of Boxes of Joy, said the campaign is \u201cso much fun,\u201d getting an active item in each box \u2013a ball, frisbee or skipping rope – and \u201cpromoting healthy living.\u201d<\/p>\n
She started the operation four years ago and has been delivering to a range of agencies within Ballarat who support babies through to late teenagers.<\/p>\n
Director of YMCA Community and Youth Management, Stacey Oliver said it\u2019s a \u201cvery heart-warming\u201d project.<\/p>\n
\u201cLooking at the amount of donations that we received was fantastic and then knowing that you\u2019re able to provide a gift for someone that might not receive much at Christmas is pretty special.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mrs Oliver said the children are \u201cvery grateful.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTwo years ago, there was a six-year-old boy that hadn\u2019t actually received any present and that was the first time.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cVery powerful,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ONE-hundred and fifty-five local children in need will each receive a shoe-box of gifts this Christmas as a result of the Boxes of Joy campaign. Twelve volunteers from the YMCA and wider Ballarat gathered at the Delacombe Community Hub to fill and wrap boxes of donated presents on Saturday. Jessy Malham, the founder of Boxes […]<\/p>\n