Christmas elves have been busy bringing in gifts for the Northern Advocate's Christmas Appeal.
It's just over a week into the appeal and the Christmas tree in the reception in Robert St is already surrounded by presents gifted by kind readers and businesses.
Soft toys, dolls, games, cars and more, all of which will go to Barnardos, have been kindly brought in by the public.
Barnardos is an organisation that helps families and children with a range of issues.Whangarei service manager Shirley Drake said the families they help often can't afford the luxury of gifts.
"If we give families what they can't afford it's wonderful," she said.
Mandy Houston, from Glenbervie, brought a bag of toys and puzzles in last week, some new and some old in good condition, that belonged to her kids.
"My kids are older now so it feels nice bringing them in," she said.
Ms Houston said she'd donated to previous Advocate Christmas appeals and said it was a "really good thing to do".
"It gets you into the Christmas spirit and if it makes children have a special Christmas, that's great."
Included in the many gifts were around 15 teddy bears that were brought in by Whitcoulls Whangarei. Whitcoulls offers the bears to purchase for customers who can choose if they'd like to buy them for themselves, or for donation.
Ms Drake said she was "overwhelmed" by the amount of donations.
"I was in tears when I came in," she said "I'd just like to say thank you very, very much. We are overwhelmed everyone has given so generously."
Advocate general manager Greg Alexander said the generosity of Northlanders donating to the paper's annual appeal never ceased to amaze.
If you'd like to donate to our Christmas appeal, new toys, or old in good condition, and non-perishable food can be brought into the Advocate office at 88 Robert St from today. The final collection will be December 23. Every donation will be gratefully received.