Almost 1,000 local children will get a Christmas present this year thanks to two amazing women from Campbelltown: Tracy Braithwaite and Belinda Jardine.
But the two Campbelltown friends behind the massive task of collecting as many gifts as possible, have them tagged and wrapped – and delivered to local public schools – take it all in their stride.
They’re not even sure how long they’ve been running Steps to Smiles and look at each other when the South West Voice asks them.
“Around nine years,’’ says Ms Jardine, before Ms Braithwaite chimes in with: “well, yes, it could be 10 years this year.’’
And they certainly don’t do it for the recognition, leaving the handing out of the gifts to the principals of the schools involved with Steps to Smiles in 2023.
“We don’t get to meet the kids, but sometimes someone will say, oh, you do that charity,’’ says Ms Jardine.
“A mum said to me once, and she started to cry, oh my gosh, my son got one of those gifts.
“When we hear stories like that it’s a reminder that we’re doing the right thing,’’ she says.
For Ms Braithwaite, whose house is the “engine room’’ of the whole operation every year, there is another important reason she does it.
“Need is right around us, and you’ve got to be able to help someone who doesn’t have anything.
“And for us, Craig (husband) and me, we’ve always wanted to teach our kids that, never forget where you’ve come from, and think what you can do for others.’’
Both Tracy Braithwaite and Belinda Jardine are working women so from around early September when Steps to Smiles kicks off for another year they’ve two jobs.
And the numbers tell the story: 1,000 gifts is a hell of a lot of work when you think about it.
It certainly is more than the 50 gifts these two amazing Good Samaritans organised in the first year of Steps to Smiles.
The numbers increased until the pandemic years, but last year was the biggest ever with around 900 gifts going to the schools.
First thing that happens every year is getting the presents – as many as possible.
“We advertise on Facebook, friends and family will donate, mine and Belinda’s, we reach out to friends and family. It’s mostly word of mouth,’’ says Ms Braithwaite.
Next comes the wrapping of the presents, which takes place in the family home of Ms Braithwaite.
“I have got to take my hat off to Tracy, her family does a lot of it,’’ says Ms Jardine.
Ms Braithwaite will rope in friends, including a family of three who dropped in on a recent Sunday and stayed for hours and hours wrapping Steps to Smiles present.
“That was really helpful,’’ says Ms Braithwaite.
“It knocked over one school, which was a huge list.’’
Ms Braithwaite has four sons, all St Greg’s boys, the youngest finishing up this year – as the school captain.
“For wrapping I’d like to thank mostly my kids, and my husband, and my sister and her husband will come and wrap some,’’ she says.
One of the reasons Steps to Smiles like working with principals is because the school headmasters know which children need to be included for a gift.
“They watch for these kids through the year, so it helps with the list,’’ they say.
The final part of Steps to Smiles is delivering the presents to schools.
“We just deliver and leave, we don’t stay for the gift giving,’’ says Ms Jardine.
“Putting smiles on kids’ faces is enough for us,’’ adds Ms Braithwaite.
