CHRISTMAS 4 KIDS 2008
Welcome to Christmas 4 Kids 2008!
A free event initiated by Hands of Hope, the community arm of Hope Brisbane Christian Church. This event was first started seven years ago as a way of reaching out to suburban communities in Brisbane. Since then, Christmas 4 Kids has become the biggest community event organised for kids in the south-western suburbs of Brisbane. [View photos of C4K]
Christmas 4 Kids is a powerful way for Hands of Hope to serve the community; telling the people that we care and sending the message that every child and parent deserves to have a memorable Christmas no matter what background they are from.
This event that started with 200 children now has more than 1300 children participating this year.
The event is held at a local school (Inala State School) and runs for four hours on a Saturday. The event has grown in popularity over the years, with hundreds of families from the surrounding suburbs travelling to attend the event.
Fun activities and games for kids
The event is four hours of fun for the kids, with more than 20 fun and exciting activity stalls with wonderful prizes, a delightful Christmas gift for every child, stage performances, a circus troupe and a giant hotdog lunch. The volunteers and the church worked hard to fundraise to make sure everything is provided for free to all the children and families.
The dignitaries at Christmas 4 Kids:
An event like this encompasses cooperation from a diversity of groups. We have great sponsors from the retailing community in Inala and surrounding areas. Patronage from the local politicians was highly visible with our special dignitaries. We were honoured to have the Lord Mayor of Brisbane and his wife, Lisa, attending the event for the second year. These special guests not only made speeches but provided financial and equipment support as well.
- The Right Honourable Lord Mayor Campbell Newman & his wife
- Bernie Ripoll, Federal Member for Oxley
- Annastacia Palaszczuk, State Member for Inala
- Councillor Milton Dick, Richlands Ward
- Uncle Hughie Kirk, Aboriginal Elder
- Councillor Angela Owen-Taylor, Parkinson Ward
Lord Mayor Campbell Newman
Sponsors and volunteers
This event costs more than AUD$20,000 (not counting volunteer time) and a year of preparation.
Our church plays a big part in the event with church members raising more than half the funds and providing ninety-five percent of the 300 volunteers needed.
The main sponsors & supporters:
- Brisbane City Council
- Zen hot Yoga & Spa
- KPMG
- PBC Realty
- Cyber City
- DentArana
Salt and light to community
Christmas 4 Kids was started as a way for our church to serve the local community, to be the salt and light to society.
With the experience and support gained from the past years, the organisers will not stop here. Hands of Hope is implementing new programs to reach out to our local community with God’s tangible love. Our prayer is that the salt and light ministry will be effective in spreading the Word of Christ to the world.
For more information about Christmas 4 Kids
Contact: Lisa Toh
Email: lisatoh@handsofhope.org.au
Website: http://www.c4k.net.au/2008/
