Families of various faiths came together in Melbourne’s west on Monday to celebrate giving in the spirit of Christmas through a unique toy drive.
The suburb of Sunshine hosted the annual Refugee and Asylum Seeker Toy Drive, and with it, a room filled with happy kids and thousands of dollars'-worth of toys.
The drive works with various sponsors and donors to gather a range of toys appropriate for different ages and needs.
Hiba (L) and Maram Faraj (R) Source: SBS News
Hiba Faraj and her two daughters, Sazan and Maram, fled Iraq three years ago.
Since then, they have come to the toy drive each year.
“I don't have anyone. I don't have family, so this is a big thing,” Ms Faraj told SBS News.
“My daughters, they feel excited every year when they come here and take some presents and see many people from different cultures.
“It's good for and lovely and good for my daughters.”
The Faraj family at the Refugee and Asylum Seeker Toy Drive Source: SBS News
Each child was allowed to pick up to two gifts.
Maram said her decision this year was influenced by her older sister.
"It is a pretty hard decision because I'm not that sure what I’m supposed to get,” Maram said.
“I chose the turtle - but my sister did not want me to get it.”
Sazan said the drive's significance stretches beyond the presents.
"It feels lovely to meet different people and see different people from different cultures and different places in the world,” she said
“I really enjoy it."
The 2019 Refugee and Asylum Seeker Toy Drive in Melbourne Source: SBS News
Refugee advocate group Spectrum, one of the drive’s partner organisations, helped host Monday’s event.
"This is often the first chance that some refugee families have to get brand new toy,” Spectrum team leader Brent Serry said.
“The journey that they've been on to get to Australia is often arduous and traumatic and they may never have had toys before.”
Last year’s drive distributed gifts to more than 3,700 children in Victoria.
