What is
Santa's Little Helpers?
For many children across Southeast Queensland, Christmas isn’t filled with joy. It’s a reminder of struggles. Homelessness, domestic violence, foster care, or simply going without.
But together, we’ve been changing that.
For nearly a decade, Santa’s Little Helpers has stepped in to make Christmas unforgettable for our community’s most vulnerable children.
Children are nominated by frontline organisations.
Every child writes their own Christmas wish list to the value of $200.
Our amazing shoppers get a Childs wishlist to shop for, wrap and deliver.
The Impact so Far
Since 2017, with the help of hundreds of families, businesses, and individuals, we’ve delivered:
That’s thousands of moments of magic, hope, and love, reminding children that they are seen, valued, and not forgotten.
How You Can Make a Difference
1. Sign Up to Shop for a Child
Choose a child’s wishlist and bring it to life. Shop, wrap, and deliver their dream gifts.
2. Sponsor a Wishlist
Short on time? With a $200 donation, we’ll shop and wrap on your behalf to ensure every wish is fulfilled.
3. Donate to Support the Program
Every donation keeps Santa’s Little Helpers running, from logistics to distribution so more children can wake up to magic on Christmas morning.
This Christmas, YOU can be the reason a child wakes up to a wish come true.
When you become a Santa’s Little Helper, you’re not just giving a gift. You’re restoring hope, creating joy and reminding a child that good things really can happen to them.
Step 1
Sign up and let us know how many lists you would like to fulfil. Plus you can specify the age and gender you would like to shop. We will allocate your wishlists from Wednesday 6th November.
Step 2
Receive your Wishlist allocations. Shop for and wrap your child's gifts updating us with your progress and photos along the way.
Step 3
Deliver your gifts to Lighthouse. We will email you with delivery instructions closer to delivery date. We will then pass on your gifts to the child.
Don't have time to shop?
We know that time can be a challenge, especially during the busy Christmas season. If you’d love to participate but can’t find the time to shop, you can still make a huge impact! By sponsoring a wishlist with a $200 donation, our team will shop for a child on your behalf, ensuring their Christmas wish comes true.
2024 Highlights
2025 Shopper Sign Ups Now Closed
We’ve reached our capacity for our 2025 project. You can still sign up to go on a waisting list or make a donation to our Christmas Appeal.
Join the Santa's Little Helpers Community
FAQ's
Where do the gifts go?
How much time do I have to get this done?
We begin sending out wishlists to our Santa’s Little Helpers shoppers from 1st November, and all gifts must be delivered to Lighthouse between 2nd and 6th December.
We know that time can be a challenge, especially during the busy Christmas season. If you’d love to participate but can’t find the time to shop, you can still make a huge impact! By sponsoring a wishlist with a $200 donation, our team will shop for a child on your behalf, ensuring their Christmas wish comes true.
To sponsor a wishlist, simply click here and help us bring joy to a child this Christmas.
What is a wishlist?
A wishlist is where the magic of Santa’s Little Helpers begins. Each child nominated to receive gifts through this initiative is given the opportunity to create their own personal wishlist. These children, many of whom are facing incredibly tough circumstances, share their first name, age, interests, favourite colour, and specific items they hope for—something they want, something they need, something to wear, and something to read.
The role of our Santa’s Little Helpers is to bring this list to life by fulfilling as many items as possible, with a total value of up to $200. This thoughtful approach ensures that every child receives gifts that are not only fun but also meaningful to them. It’s about more than just presents—it’s about making their Christmas wishes come true.
I don't know what size my child is?
Why is it a $200 budget?
We believe every child deserves to feel truly special, especially at Christmas. The $200 price tag ensures that these children, many of whom have faced unimaginable hardships, experience the joy and excitement of receiving gifts they’ve wished for—a joy that can light up their entire holiday season.
However, we understand that $200 may not be feasible for everyone who wants to be involved. If that’s the case, why not consider teaming up with friends, family, or colleagues to shop for a child together? We love seeing people come together in this way each year, pooling their generosity to make a child’s Christmas dreams come true.
It’s also a wonderful opportunity to teach your own children about the power of giving. By involving them in the process, you’re showing them the importance of kindness and empathy, and that there are children in their own community who go without, not just at Christmas, but every day.
Together, we can make a big impact—and bring even bigger smiles to these deserving children.
For any additional questions or to get in contact please email santa@lighthousecare.org.au
Share your story
This project brings together hundreds of amazing people, each with a unique experience and an important role to play. Your story matters, and we want to celebrate and share the incredible impact you’ve been a part of. Let us know in your comment whether you’re a shopper, a partner organisation, or a recipient. We’d love to hear how this project has touched your life or how you’ve contributed to making it a success. Take a moment to share your journey with us—it’s stories like yours that inspire and connect everyone involved!
