Grandmother started the Kmart Wishing Tree 30 years ago 

Three decades ago, South Australian mother and now grandmother Eve Kibblewhite had an idea to help those in need.

Little did she know that the idea would turn into Australia’s largest and longest running Christmas gift appeal – the Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal.

‘The reason I started the Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal back in 1987 was because at the time I saw a charity collecting food items which tugged at my heart,’ she tells FEMAIL.

‘I thought that Kmart had a really good outlet to do something similar and help those in need.

‘I then chatted to my manager about my idea. They were really supportive and helped put the steps in place to make it happen.’

Since the appeal was founded, more than eight million gifts have been donated across the country. 

The Kmart Wishing Tree provides hundreds of thousands of gifts to those in need each year

Last year, the Appeal collected more than 380,000 gifts.

‘It’s an amazing Appeal and it’s done so much to help those who don’t have much at Christmas time and during times after,’ says Ms Kibblewhite.

‘It’s now part of many Australians Christmas tradition to give to the Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal and I couldn’t be more proud.’

Back in 1987, Ms Kibblewhite saw a charity collecting food items and thought Kmart could do a similar appeal 

Donations can be made in store at Kmart or online. Last year 380,000 gifts were received

Ms Kibblewhite says she would like to see more people donate gifts this year.

‘We do struggle to receive gifts for teenagers and the elderly, so I would love to see this change so more teenagers and elderly citizens are considered when giving to others,’ she explains.

On November 15, Kmart will officially kick off its 30th year of the Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal together with The Salvation Army to support members of the community in need.

It runs up until Christmas Eve.