Giving Tuesday 2025: A Community effort we’ll never forget.

Benji from Te Tahi Youth surrounded by donated items collected through the Giving Tuesday 2025 campaign.

To say we were blown away by Giving Tuesday this year feels like an understatement.

Giving Tuesday is a global movement celebrating generosity, a day where people, schools, businesses, and communities come together to create real impact. This year marked Te Tahi Youth’s second time taking part, and what unfolded was nothing short of remarkable.

From the moment we shared our appeal, the response was immediate, heartfelt, and far greater than we ever anticipated.

A huge thank you to Chemist Warehouse, who generously donated a large amount of essential products. These items became a key part of the Christmas goodie bags our rangatahi receive.

We were also supported by Westfield Riccarton, who set up a community collection box, a simple gesture that made a huge difference and helped us gather even more items for young people in need.

And then came our local schools, who absolutely blew us away:

• Lincoln High School ran a food drive and raised funds through a non-uniform day

• Papanui High School held a bake sale

• Avonside Girls’ High School organised a collection

• Southern Health School lovingly created handmade sweet packs to brighten someone’s Christmas

Local businesses including Aspiring Law, Rogers & Co, and ICIB Brokerweb also contributed generously, and we had the incredible help of Georgia Paris (Miss Canterbury), who rolled up her sleeves and helped us sort and pack the bags.

Because of this combined effort, we were able to give out 100 Christmas goodie bags.

For some rangatahi, this small package of treats, essentials, and care items will be the only gift they receive this Christmas.

That’s why Giving Tuesday matters. It’s about connection, dignity, hope, and reminding young people that their community sees them and cares.

Whether you donated, organised a fundraiser, baked, collected, packed, or shared our message – thank you. Your kindness creates real change. It eases pressure on families, helps young people feel seen, and strengthens the wraparound support we’re able to offer every day.

From all of us at Te Tahi Youth: your generosity truly matters, and we are deeply grateful.