Givers unite to make sure no student goes without a gift

By Bree Harding

Dec 18, 2024

Everyday Supplies owner Jac McCarty and Mooroopna Park Primary School wellbeing co-ordinator Lisa Hueston with more than 300 wrapped gifts for the students. Photo by Bree Harding

Lisa Hueston’s office looks like Santa crashed his sleigh there.

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Overflowing with 310 gifts the Mooroopna Park Primary School wellbeing co-ordinator has meticulously wrapped (with some help), it’s an explosion of festive motifs and colour.

The gifts, which include Lego, sports equipment and other toys, were purchased by the school and Everyday Supplies, who has sponsored Christmas gifting at the school for three consecutive years.

“We just love to know every child is getting something for Christmas,” Everyday Supplies’ Jac McCarty said.

“Some don’t wake up to a present at all on Christmas morning and that’s heartbreaking.”

Ms McCarty said Mooroopna Park Primary School held a special place in her heart.

Last year her business sponsored a cubby house for the grounds.

This year it has returned to individual take-home gifts for the kids.

Ms Hueston and Ms McCarty went on a shopping expedition earlier this month to hand-pick the gifts for about 100 boys and 50 girls enrolled at the school.

They said balancing the haul in two trolleys presented a challenge, but was also a spectacle that garnered a lot of positive interest as members of the public inquired about their mission.

Mooroopna Park Primary School wellbeing co-ordinator Lisa Hueston and Everyday Supplies owner and sponsor Jac McCarty shopping for the gifts. Photo by Contributed

“We can’t do the things we do at our school without people like Jac who jump on board to do the things we believe in,” Ms Hueston said.

Each child will receive two wrapped gifts, lollies, chips, textas and a bon-bon this year when Santa hands them out at the school’s final assembly on December 18.

The kids bound for high school next year will also receive brand new backpacks containing stationery, which were donated by the BNI Foundation Australia philanthropy group that supports children’s education.

In addition to the Christmas gift-giving, the assembly will be a celebration of the children’s reading and attendance achievements throughout the year, with Kiwanis Terrific Kids awards being handed out as well.