Christmas Gift Appeal

Help us fulfil the wishes of vulnerable children this Christmas.

This Christmas, Berry Street needs to provide 10,000 gifts to the children and young people in our care, many of whom have never experienced the joy of Christmas.

Children who have suffered from violence, neglect and abuse and can no longer live safely with their parents. Understandably, Christmas is often a distressing time for these children. Feeling safe and loved is what they want the most.

A special Christmas gift sends a message that someone cares. Please give a Christmas wish to a vulnerable child.

See our gift catalogue

Delivering Christmas wishes to children like Ella

The gift of giving

Help deliver a Christmas wish to children like Ella

Children like six year old Ella really need our help this Christmas. Ella was recently placed in foster care, having grown up in an environment of violence and fear. Her mother’s boyfriend was regularly violent. Ella had witnessed beatings so shocking that her mother had to be hospitalised.

For children like Ella, Christmas can be distressing. Family violence incidents increase around Christmas. For Ella, Christmas had been a terrifying time of year. For children who have missed out on so much, a special Christmas gift sends a message that someone cares. Ella loves painting and craft, and she has told Lucinda that she can’t remember getting a Christmas present before.

Buy a gift today, and help fulfil a Christmas wish for a child like Ella.

Buy a gift online

How it works

Your gift will help a child in need

Step 1

Choose a gift or experience from our catalogue.

Step 2

Choose to gift on behalf of a loved one, via a personalised e-card or print-at-home card.

Step 3

Purchase your gifts.

Step 4

Your gift will provide a Christmas wish to a child or family in need.

Buy a gift online

Berry Street: 140 Years Protecting Victorian Children

Our work started back in 1877, with the Berry Street Babies’ Home – a place of refuge for abandoned children. Berry Street has grown into Victoria’s largest independent child and family services organisation.

Last year we helped nearly 20,000 vulnerable children and families who have suffered from abuse, neglect and violence. We continue to help those who have been abused to rebuild their lives, protect those at risk, and find the best ways of preventing abuse.

Visit Berry Street

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I support the Berry Street Christmas Gift Appeal?

To fulfil the Christmas wishes of vulnerable children and young people please select one or more gifts on our website. By selecting one of our online gifts, you will be ensuring that the gift you give is the right one. 100% of the funds will be used by our staff and carers to purchase personalised gifts to best meet the needs of children, young people and families in our care who have suffered from violence and abuse.

How does the Berry Street online gift catalogue work?

This Christmas we are asking supporters to select a gift online. This will allow our staff, foster carers and kinship carers to purchase and deliver gifts to children that match their specific needs and wishes.

The online gift catalogue works like this:

Select the type of gift you would like to give
Select whether you would like to purchase the gift from yourself, or on behalf of your loved ones
Berry Street staff and carers will use your funds to purchase a Christmas gift for a vulnerable child.

Personalised gifts for these children and young people are so important in terms of making them feel special and loved, and for many of them, the gift they receive from Berry Street may be the only one they receive this Christmas.

In some cases, particularly with adolescents, their one wish is to receive a gift voucher from their favourite store so they can choose their own gift – something their peers are frequently able to enjoy.

How can I purchase a gift on behalf of my friends or family?

You can choose to purchase a Berry Street Christmas gift on behalf of your friends or family and send them a card to share the Christmas wishes.

Simply select whether you would like to send a personalised e-card or a personalised card that you can print at home. You can even select which image you would like for your card.

See all FAQs

Christmas Gift Appeal

Help deliver a Christmas wish to children like Ella

Our most needed gifts

Something to Cuddle: A Soft Toy

Sweet Dreams: Pyjamas and Blanket

Something from Santa: A Personalised Gift

Ready for School: Lunchbox and Drink Bottle