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This year we are transitioning from Toys n Tucker to a new program called Anglicare Christmas Connection. It builds on everything people have loved about Toys n Tucker, but in a new way that helps us support families more effectively.

Toys n Tucker has been incredibly meaningful, and we are so grateful for the support over the years. The change to Christmas Connection is about making sure we can continue to support more families, more consistently, and in a way that is sustainable into the future.

Yes, Anglicare client families will continue to receive support this Christmas, which may include hampers. However, hampers will not be available for general requests from the public. This shift ensures that support is more consistent and better tailored to what people actually need beyond emergency food relief. Our Community Pantries will also continue to provide affordable groceries and a supportive presence in communities across NSW.

Absolutely. Churches remain at the heart of Christmas Connection, and we also welcome participation from schools, community groups, workplaces, and individuals. There will be new and meaningful ways for everyone to get involved. 

For any school specific enquiries relating to Anglicare’s Christmas Connections in 2026 please reach out to Anglicare’s Take Love team: takelove@anglicare.org.au

If you're a school wanting to get involved with Anglicare this Christmas, we'd love to hear from you! Reach out to our Anglicare Take Love team to find out how you and your students can get involved.

Contact: takelove@anglicare.org.au

We’ll have some resources available to support you as You might frame it this way to your congregation:

"For many years, we’ve supported families through Toys n Tucker, and that has made a real difference. Now, Anglicare is evolving this work to help families not just at Christmas, but throughout the year. This new program, Christmas Connection, still reflects the same heart of generosity, but it’s designed to create a deeper, more lasting impact. We’re excited to be part of this next chapter."

Instead of collecting physical items, the new campaign will focus on a different way of giving that allows us to respond more directly to people’s needs. Community members can choose a card representing a vital service, make a secure donation, and write a physical Messages of Encouragement to be delivered directly to families.

Please note that churches, schools and organisations can still collect food, ideally outside of the Christmas season, so we can all be focused on Christmas Connection. We will no longer be collecting or distributing toys, and will redirect toy-focused enquiries to other organisations.

Yes, absolutely. Individuals can participate entirely online through the Christmas Connection website by selecting a card, making a secure donation, and writing a Messages of Encouragement. Churches, schools, workplaces, and community groups can also encourage their communities to participate online if they are unable to visit a physical foyer display. Anglicare will print these digital messages onto physical postcards and hand-deliver them to clients alongside frontline services, ensuring everyone can share hope this Christmas, wherever they are.

We understand how meaningful tangible giving has been, as it has been a powerful expression of generosity and care within churches and communities. In this new approach, we are building on that same heart by focusing on what will most effectively support families, both at Christmas and beyond.

While food and gifts can meet immediate needs, we also want to help families experience longer-term stability and hope. Importantly, churches and communities are still welcome to run local food or community collections throughout the year, creating opportunities for hands-on generosity in ways that best suit their context. At Christmas, the broader program will focus on delivering support in more sustainable and transformational ways, while still creating meaningful opportunities for people to connect, give and make a difference.

No, not at all. Supporting families at Christmas remains a priority. What is changing is how that support is delivered. The new approach ensures that help is more consistent, better targeted and connected to longer-term support, so families are not only supported at Christmas, but beyond it.

We understand that churches are often supporting many causes throughout the year. Christmas Connection is designed to be simple, flexible and meaningful, so your church, school or workplace can participate in a way that fits your context. It’s not about adding more burden, but about offering an opportunity to engage your community in a purposeful and impactful way at Christmas. We’ll provide clear resources and options to help make involvement straightforward and aligned with your existing rhythms. 

Yes, there will be opportunities to volunteer at our warehouse. Most importantly, you can also join us as a host volunteer at one of our end of year Christmas lunches or dinners, with more information and sign-up pathways to follow soon.

Yes, absolutely. Christmas Connection is intentionally designed to remain Christ-centred, relational and full of generosity. While we are moving away from rows of physical hampers, we are replacing them with a beautiful, interactive foyer experience. Your church will receive a physical 'Message Mailbox' and dedicated card-writing display tables that act as a festive community hub. This creates a wonderful, visual focal point in your building where people can still gather, write handwritten Messages of Encouragement and share in the excitement of giving.

Absolutely. We understand that transitioning from a cherished tradition like Toys n Tucker is a significant step, and you may have questions unique to your local community. Your Partnership Development Officer (PDO) and our Church Engagement team are here to walk alongside you, listen and help you explore how your church or organisation can transition smoothly. Please get in touch with our team on 1300 111 218  email christmasconnection@anglicare.org.au to arrange a phone call or a face-to-face chat. We would love to connect with you.

Actually, the new approach is designed to make it simpler and more flexible for churches and communities to participate, while still being really meaningful. We provide your team with a complete campaign kit (including a cardboard Message Mailbox, display stands and gift cards) that takes under five minutes to set up.

Yes, definitely. One of the things we are really excited about is that the new campaign creates opportunities for whole communities to be involved together in a simple and engaging way. When you sign up as a partnering community, we will provide you with a full information pack, resources and the campaign kit so that your whole community can get behind the project.

We will be launching the full program in July, and we would love to share everything with you then, including how you can get involved. If you would like to start preparing, you can view and download our digital promotional resources on our Resources Page.

We have designed the physical materials to keep your building setup clean and simple. The flat-pack cardboard display stand and the cardboard 'Message Mailbox' are compact and designed to sit easily on a standard foyer welcome table.

Coordinating tip: You will need to provide a table, pens and some blu-tack or pins to hang up your posters. For a full setup checklist, you can download the Welcome & planning guide on our Resources Page.

We want this campaign to be accessible to everyone, including those who don’t want to give online. Every physical kit contains reply-paid giving envelopes to allow people to fill in their giving details, add a cheque or card details, and drop them directly into your Message Mailbox alongside their written postcard.

If you prefer not to give online, you can make a physical donation using the giving envelopes provided by following these steps:

1. Complete the donation form in the prepaid envelope provided, which includes all the necessary giving details (including a cash option). 
2. Seal your envelope. 
3. Return your donation by either posting the prepaid envelope yourself, or place it in the Christmas Connection Message Mailbox at your church and the campaign ambassador will ensure it is promptly returned to Anglicare.
4. Remember to write a Messages of Encouragement postcard and add it to the Mailbox as well.

The campaign ambassador or team member should empty the Message Mailbox after each Sunday throughout Christmas Connection. Place all the completed, handwritten postcards into the secure, reply-paid envelope provided in your kit and drop it into any Australia Post box. No stamp or postage cost is required. We ask that all cards be mailed back to us by mid-January so our teams can begin preparing them for delivery.

Don't worry! Your congregation, school community or workplace can purchase gifts and write Messages of Encouragement online if your response is larger than expected, or you can download and print extra resources instantly. Head to our Resources Page to download Extra postcards, Printable campaign posters or Writing table display guidelines to keep your campaign running smoothly.

Mobile community pantries and Hubs will continue to be a key point of connection as part of the program. 

• The goal of these cards is to write a warm, relational message of genuine hope and solidarity. To keep messages dignified and helpful:
  • Avoid platitudes: Skip oversimplified clichés like "Just smile, it could be worse!" and write honest, prayerful encouragement instead.
  • Protect privacy: Sign off with first names and suburbs only. Do not write surnames, home addresses or specific church group names.
  • Keep it gender-neutral: This ensures our caseworkers can hand your card to whoever needs that encouragement most.
• We have complete guidelines and quick-copy prompts, Messages of Encouragement writing guide available from our Resources page that you can display on your foyer writing table.

Yes, absolutely. Sharing a prayer or a message of comfort is a vital gift of grace in itself. We want everyone in your community, including children, youth and those unable to give financially, to be able to participate. You can print copies of Extra Messages of Encouragement postcards for anyone who wants to share a Messages of Encouragement without using a donor card.

Once you mail the completed postcards back to Anglicare, our staff sort them and distribute them directly to our frontline caseworkers, community pantry volunteers, financial counsellors and chaplaincy teams. These teams will hand-deliver your written cards directly to clients during moments of care and support throughout the year. Your cards serve as a physical reminder to vulnerable people that they are seen, prayed for and not walking alone.

Yes, we love having children involved! We have created colouring sheets which feature festive colouring-in designs on one side and dedicated spaces for children to write simple prayers or Messages of Encouragement on the other. You can download and print these sheets from our Resources Page to hand out during Sunday school, kids' church or family services.