Christmas can be a very expensive time of year which can add to the financial pressure already felt by families experiencing hardship.
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The Stroud Giving Tree is all about providing the opportunity for those who are doing okay to assist those who may need a little extra support.
Taking pride of place from the start of December each year, the Giving Tree is located in R and R Property's Stroud office with members of the community invited to provide unwrapped gifts for children aged from birth to 18 years old.
According to R and R's managing director Denise Haynes, the business has been working in conjunction with the Dungog Shire Community Centre for several years to provide gifts for the children in the Dungog, Stroud and Gloucester regions.
Although the tree has only been running for the past 10 years, Denise has been personally involved in assisting with this kind of giving for the past 15 years.
"I believe that all children deserve a gift at Christmas time no matter what their family circumstances are," Denise said.
Organising to have the giving tree set up at her business was a way of acknowledging the support she's received from the Stroud, Dungog, Bulahdelah and Gloucester communities.
"I am committed to returning that support in any and every way I can, and I believe it keeps the community thinking of each other," she explained.
People looking to donate are asked to provide the gifts unwrapped so the volunteers at the community centre can assess each one and wrap accordingly before being distributed in the week before Christmas.
Each year, Denise said they are overwhelmed each with the community's generosity.
"Small town living is the best for banding together in times of need," she said.
But for Denise, the tree isn't just about providing gifts for children so they have something to open on Christmas morning, it's also humility.
"I believe it also teaches children the value of giving and that not all children are sometimes as lucky as they might be," Denise said.
The giving tree will continue to accept donations until Sunday, December 15.