Christmas from the Heart
- admin1356
- Dec 17, 2025
- 3 min read
The Young Onset Dementia Collective (YODC) had the chance to spread their volunteering wings at Visionwest’s Christmas from the Heart.
Visionwest Community Trust runs the eight day event every year for it’s West Auckland whanau. Businesses donate food and toys which families are able to “shop” for with points based on the size of their whanau.
Thanks to the success of YODC’s volunteer days at Fair Food, the team were invited to help out at the event at Visionwest.
Tevita and Steve were based in the Social Supermarket packing groceries after people had been through the aisles picking up essentials and a few Christmas treats.
Innes and Rua were in the produce department making up fresh fruit and vegetable packs which were given to all whanau for free.
Tevita and Steve packed groceries like pros. Hundreds of people came through with trolleys full of food ready to be packed into carry bags. Alongside nappies and frozen mixed vege, there were Christmas pavlovas and packets of chippies so extra care was needed not to crush. Everyone leaves visibly grateful, and thanking the pair profusely.
“I feel like Santa Claus,” says Tevita.
“It’s been huge,” says Rua. “People have been overwhelmed at the trolley full of food they’re walking away with. They just go wow.”
“So many happy families,” says Innes smiling from ear to ear. “It’s hard work but it feels good to be here”.
The team’s hard work and committment did not go unnoticed.
“Do I get to keep this crew til next week?” asks Visionwest Manager of the Social Supermarket, Mike.
Outside, Anita found herself playing Santa’s elf on the wrapping station. As people emerged from the toy store with games and toy cars and bottles of bubbles, they arrived at the wrapping station where a group of volunteers were navigating odd shaped items into pretty parcels.
“I was nervous at the start of the day coming into the unknown and going somewhere new,” says Anita.
She chooses some pink wrapping paper with chocolate fish to wrap an awkwardly shaped toy baby buggy.
“But it’s been great to do something new,” she says. “I would do this again, working with other people and making it work. The thought of a switch can be concerning but it always works out if you’ve got the right people around you.”
“When you’re enabled you can do anything,” says Anita.
“Enablement is what it’s all about,” says Anne Logan, the driving force behind The Young Onset Dementia Collective. It’s a philosophy that runs through everything the Collective does — creating opportunities, building confidence, and reminding people living with young onset dementia of their strengths and value. With bold ideas already taking shape, 2026 is set to be an exciting year, and this is only the beginning.
We’re grateful to Fair Food for putting us forward for this opportunity, and to VisionWest for welcoming us so warmly and believing in what we’re building together.
YOUR DONATION will HELP US HELP OURSELVES.
Getting help needed is a living challenge for the group behind Young Onset Dementia Collective.
If we wait for Government, Ministry of Health or under-funded agencies, it will be too little too late for our people.
For many the situation is dire. Help is needed NOW so we made a collective conscious decision to do everything we can to help ourselves. Spouses, partners, carers of people living with younger onset dementia have real life reasons driving combined determination.
Help us keep minds engaged and spirits lifted for those affected. Plus support carers in their financial, mental and wellbeing journey.
