Young Kiwi children from struggling families facing such severe financial hardship that Christmas food and presents are  out of reach often believe they’ve been forgotten by Santa because they are perpetually on the ‘naughty list’, children’s charity Variety says.

Children on the charity’s waiting list frequently send letters that reflect the impact of being heartbroken and inadequate when they believe Santa hasn’t noticed their efforts in being well behaved during the year.

Variety chief executive Willa Hand says it’s impossible to imagine how terrible a child feels believing that they are so ‘naughty’ that they are punished in this way.

“It must be hard for those children to see the things their friends get and eat, and believe they have been ‘too naughty’ during the year to deserve them too,” Hand says. 

“The effects of that must be really tough on very small children who still believe in Santa and the magic of the season, and see what they are missing out on each year.

“Every child deserves to wake up on Christmas morning knowing they matter, they belong and they are worthy of kindness, regardless of the circumstances they face."

Variety begins its annual Christmas Appeal for food poverty this week to raise funding for children and their families who can’t afford a Christmas meal. A Variety caregivers’ survey earlier this year found that more than 90% could not afford food and gifts for their children at Christmas.
 
Variety’s Christmas Appeal features the real story of eight-year-old Stevie, who works hard each year being ‘good’ for her mum, only to find Santa passes her chimney by year after year.
 
The youngster shuts her bedroom windows on Christmas Day and pulls the curtains so she can’t smell the special food on neighbours’ barbeques because for her, family Christmas dinner is toast with tinned spaghetti and a couple of biscuits.
  
“Children don't go without presents or food at Christmas because they're naughty,” Hand says. “They go without because their families are facing challenges no child should have to carry.”

"The most heartbreaking thing we hear at Variety isn't that a child wants a toy or food at Christmas. It's when a child believes they don't deserve them."

To donate to Variety’s Christmas Appeal, please go to www.varietychristmas.org.nz.

More information:
Willa Hand: 027 2664344
Kathryn Calvert: 021 0853 4114