A Cooranbong mum has created a better Christmas for dozens of kids in-need after dropping off 109 presents at family support and foster care service Barnardos.
Emily Higgins dropped off the massive haul on Friday after months of gathering presents from drop-off points she organised across the Hunter.
She decided to organise the drive after she held a 100s club for the organisation about six months ago.
"We raised about $350 for them and when I was speaking with the director Belinda, she was telling me about things they do," Ms Higgins said.
"On their website they mentioned toy drives so I reached out to friends and family to see if they would help out."
Ms Higgins managed to establish drop off points at family members' homes in Sydney, Nelson Bay, Maitland, as well as her own home and workplace in the Hunter Valley. Bunnings Morisset also offered use of their trailer to transport the gifts to the Wyong centre.
She said the initiative took a lot of work, but it was worth it to bring joy to the kids.
"My husband and I have spoken about fostering children," she said. "We've got a little two-year-old, it breaks my heart there's kids out there who suffer from abuse and things like that.
"It's taken me a bit of work but really it's nothing for me to do this for these children especially when you think about all they've gone through.
"When I think about it, it makes me really grateful. It wasn't just me who did this, it's everyone else, even people who weren't able to donate for whatever reason.
"There was a lot of love, it's overwhelming but in a good way."
