The simple things can often have a bigger impact than we could ever imagine – and that’s exactly what the organisers behind the Susan Roskell Memorial Toy and Gift Drive see every year.
The Mutual Bank is once again partnering with this incredible community initiative that helps to create happy memories for families affected by hardship over the holiday season.
The Susan Roskell Toy and Gift Drive was established with the goal of providing gifts and toys to children, and their parents and carers, who have been impacted by the effects of domestic and family violence, homelessness, illness and injury.
The Mutual Bank’s Chief Member Officer Matthew Dunnill said continuing to be a Platinum Sponsor of the well-established and respected appeal was an easy decision for the member-owned and community focused bank.
“The Susan Roskell Toy and Gift Drive aligns with our values and supports grassroots charities and community organisations, helping them to aid families seeking assistance at what can be a really challenging time of year,” Matthew said.
“Our team was thrilled to take part in this project last year and we hope the community will be just as generous this year by supporting the drive – the smallest of gifts are so important as they all add up.”
Todd Sheldon from Bolwarra Heights organises the annual event, which is now in its ninth year. It all started in 2016 when a request from Maitland’s Reading Cinema to support struggling families during the festive season saw Todd, his wife Penny, and their son Lachlan (who was named Young Citizen of the Year 2024 for his toy drive efforts), donating wrapped gifts to a Wishing Tree and from this, the idea of an annual toy drive was born.
“It is heartening to see that with every year, the support from the community and small businesses has grown which enables us to support the ever-increasing number of Hunter families that are seeking a helping hand during the holiday season,” said Todd.
As well as The Mutual Bank branches being a collection point for the gifts, the bank’s team will also volunteer over two days to help sort the donations at their Head Office in Green Hills for distribution to the charities.
Community members can drop unwrapped, new toys and presents and gift vouchers into one of the large boxes at each of our seven branches – Dungog, East Maitland, Edgeworth, Maitland, Mayfield, Raymond Terrace and Rutherford.
