Hi Everyone,

My name is Shane Donovan, and I am the founder of The Community Giving Tree and Director of Donovan Real Estate.

I started The Community Giving Tree back in 2015 to support families in our local community who would otherwise go without at Christmas time. Over the years, I’ve seen first-hand how difficult this time of year can be for some families, while many look forward to joy and celebration, others feel the weight of financial stress and worry about how they’ll make Christmas special for their children.

Christmas should be a time of excitement and togetherness, not comparison or hardship. Some families I’ve met simply wish for one small gift to give their child. Through The Community Giving Tree and the incredible support of our community, we’ve been able to make that wish come true for hundreds of local families.

Being a father of three young boys myself, I know how much it means for children to wake up on Christmas morning believing in the magic of Santa. It breaks my heart to know that for some, that magic fades because there are no presents under the tree, or sometimes, no tree at all. No child should ever have to wonder if they’ve been forgotten.

Since 2015, The Community Giving Tree has raised over $80,000 and supported more than 900 families in need. This year marks a huge milestone, our 10th year! so we’re determined to make it our biggest and brightest yet.

We’re proud to announce that this year, we’re partnering with OzChild and their annual Wishing Tree Appeal to spread even more Christmas cheer throughout our community.

Our goal this year is to raise over $10,000 in money and gifts, which will allow us to provide presents and food hampers for more than 100 families doing it tough. Sadly, the number of families needing help continues to grow due to the rising cost of living, but we believe that together, we can make a real difference.

Here’s how you can help:

Gift Donations:

We’re collecting new, unwrapped gifts for boys and girls aged up to 14 years, as well as non-perishable food items and essentials.

Please note that we can’t accept, second-hand toys, or perishable food.

Monetary Donations:

If you’d like to contribute financially, we’ll do the shopping for you! Every dollar raised helps us purchase gifts and essentials for families in need.

You can drop off your donations under our Christmas Tree at:

Donovan Real Estate Partners

F5 & F6, 317 Ballarto Road, Carrum Downs

Or, if you’d prefer to donate directly:

Bank Details for Monetary Donations:

Account Name: The Community Giving Tree

BSB: 083-420

Account: 744 756 775