For several organisations, December was a time to finalise their year and wind down in preparation for the Festive Season but the team of helpers for Mackay Hospital Foundation were busy volunteering their time to make Christmas easier for many shoppers at Mt Pleasant Centre with its Christmas Gift Wrapping Service.
Mackay Hospital Foundation General Manager, Kristi Algate said, “The result of our Christmas gift wrapping at Mt Pleasant Centre in the lead up to Christmas was our most successful yet and thanks must go to the many people who volunteered their time and expertise to make it such a success.”
Mt Pleasant Centre generously supports a number of local charities and Mackay Hospital Foundation is very fortunate to have had a wonderful working relationship with the Centre for a number of years.
Ms Algate said on most days in the lead up to Christmas, the gift-wrapping station which was located at the top of the escalator at Mt Pleasant Centre, was operational between 10am and 2pm daily. Offers of support came from local organisations such as Hays, Gardian, ANZ Caneland Branch, SBB Partners, Westpac, Mackay Tourism, students from St Patrick’s College and Holy Spirit College, Mackay Base Hospital staff, our MHF volunteers as well as family and friends.
Member for Mackay Julieanne Gilbert donated her time as did Cr Fran Mann who not only wrapped gifts on a number of days but also made hundreds of bows to adorn the gifts.
A total of $8,138.20 was raised for our local hospitals as a result of the gift-wrapping which Ms Algate said is a record for the Foundation.
“It’s our most successful year yet”, she added.
Mt Pleasant Centre very generously donates the wrapping paper, tape, ribbon and bows, with staff on hand to assist when needed.
Mt Pleasant Centre Manger, Cathy Sullivan said, “From the smallest of gifts to the largest, we had them covered. Christmas is a busy time in the Centre and the gift-wrapping service is an added bonus for shoppers, while at the same time, giving us the opportunity to support a worthy local charity in Mackay Hospital Foundation.”
Ms Algate added, “We’re extremely grateful to the management and staff of Mt Pleasant Centre, to everyone who volunteered their time to wrap gifts and also to every person who donated money in support of our local hospitals.
“Christmas is a special time of year and we’re pleased we could share it with so many visitors to Mt Pleasant Centre and hopefully add a small amount of joy to each person who stopped by to see us”.
Staff and volunteers from Mackay Hospital Foundation will be back at Mt Pleasant Centre in the lead up to Easter as the Easter Bunny visits the Centre, helping out with gift wrapping prior to Mother’s Day and assisting with craft activities during school holidays.
For anyone interested in volunteering for Mackay Hospital Foundation, please contact the office on 4885 5915. Find out more information about Mackay Hospital Foundation, visit mackayhospitalfoundation.com.au
Cr Fran Mann (Mackay Regional Council), Kristi Algate (Mackay Hospital Foundation) and Denise Phillips (Gardian Group)
The team from SSB Partners
