I would like to share a story about my life.

I was only one and blissfully unaware what poverty and struggling was. I didn't understand that every last cent was spent to make my day happy while my parents went without.
At the time my parents were forced out of our small home town because of rumours that caused endless of problems with employment. Relying on charities for accommodation and food became one of the reasons we were not homeless and living in a car.
Donations was the way I could experience Christmas like any other child.

As I got older I started to realise other people got far more "cooler" gifts. I quickly learned what the phrase "too expensive" was. I never really got anything fancy. One year, we were given a huge box of toys from the same charity organisation which helped us when I was one years old. I got a big teddy bear and I was so happy.

Looking back on these experiences there have been times where we couldn't even afford food until pay day and these charities and organisations were there for us. I feel blessed that now I can afford a lot of things that I never could get as a child. I still won't get anything fancy for Christmas but that's not what Christmas is about.

There are many people who have reasons for not having a good Christmas. Whether it is due to sickness, poverty, homelessness and other circumstances. I know the importance of charity organisations first hand having relied on them several times a year for the first 13 years of my life.

If you can, donate to a charity you are passionate about. It can be food, clothes, blankets, toys and anything you no longer need if you cannot part with money. Something you have, as simple as it may be, can make someone elses Christmas just that little bit better and by continuing to give, you can improve someone's life; even if you don't know who.