Carrie’s Place domestic violence and homelessness services in Maitland has not received its regular donations of toys and gifts needed for 60 families with 100 children living in poverty across the region.

It has in the past relied on the Salvation Army for a supply of gifts, but this year there are not enough to spare.

“It has been a bad year for donations of gifts and toys,” education worker Wendy Atkinson said.

“There is nowhere near the number of donations we normally receive.

“The Salvation Army has also suffered this year in terms of donations.

“It is not because Maitland people are not as generous or have changed their attitude - times are tough, there has been economic downturn in employment sectors, bills are going up and people experience insecurity.”

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Gifts are urgently needed for children aged eight years and over, and teenagers.

Items such as clothing and shopping centre gift cards are always a great help, Ms Atkinson said.

“These are packaged into a parcel for each child,” she said.

Carrie’s Place works with 60 families that have between two and six children, each affected by domestic violence or homelessness.

“These children will not get anything on Christmas Day without the community’s help,” she said.

“It is a huge relief for these families when they receive a package because it is heartbreaking that they cannot give their children a single gift.

“It is not about consumerism, Santa or baubles – it is about exchanging a gift on Christmas Day.”

For families escaping domestic violence, providing Christmas gifts is an added pressure.

Fear, safety of children, housing and legal issues are also at the fore, Carrie’s Place CEO Jan McDonald said.

But there has been some goodwill delivered to Carries Place this season.

A Maitland family turned up with 12 bags of Christmas groceries to deliver to families in need.

“This one family with adolescent children has decided not to give gifts to one another, instead giving to the community,” Ms McDonald said.

“They will also forgo their family Christmas dinner and volunteer to serve Christmas lunch to people in need.”

Donations can be delivered to 98 High Street, Maitland.

Research from the 2012 Australian Bureau of Statistics Personal Safety Survey and Australian Institute of Criminology shows men and women in Australia experienced substantial levels of violence.

Domestic and sexual violence is overwhelmingly committed by men against women.

More than three times as many people experienced violence from a male than a woman perpetrator.