For many people, the Christmas season is one of the happiest times of the year. However, we tend to forget that not everyone is surrounded by loved ones, nor is everyone able to afford to buy presents for loved ones and friends.

According to Lifeline Australia data,  over 28,000 Australians will reach out to charities for help this Christmas period. At Return-It QLD we encourage everyone to stand together this holiday season, to help ensure that all Australians feel valued at Christmas time.

Here are a few tips that we hope might just help to change someone’s life this festive season.

1. Donate your refund to charity in support of their Christmas appeal

This holiday season, we encourage those of you who recycle your containers with us and can afford to donate your refunds to charity to donate. We’ve partnered with some amazing charity organisations throughout Queensland, who can use the money to support a range of great causes. For example, Vinnies QLD’s 2019 Christmas appeal is raising funds to support less fortunate Australia’s during the festive season. Vinnies says that just $60 can provide a child with shoes, clothes and a small gift for Christmas. A Christmas without donors is no Christmas at all for some Australians, so every dollar donated through Return-It QLD is making a positive impact on local Queensland communities and the environment.

2.  Donation bin

For the crafty folks out there, who have already created a special ‘Return-It’ bin in which you collect containers to return for a refund, we encourage you to spread the love this Christmas season by making a second container. By splitting bottle across two bins, you can collect some for yourself, and collect the refund from these bottles, while using the second bin as a charity bin. This way you are able to save some money to put towards your refund goal, and support charity at the same time. This is also a great way to teach your kids the importance of caring for our community and that they are fortunate to be surrounded by loved ones.

3. Christmas spirit

The St Vincent de Paul society says, “a Christmas without joy, is no Christmas at all” and one of the most important things about Christmas is the spirit of giving. Be someone else’s Santa by bringing them joy and spreading the spirit of charitable giving this Christmas season. At Return-It QLD, we love to share stories of how customers are able to support our charity partners, so no matter the donation, please do share your stories of charity with us this Christmas season, so we can share them and encourage others.

And, from all of us at Return-It QLD, we want to wish you a very happy Christmas.