Ten years ago, Sarah Page was suffering postnatal depression after a difficult pregnancy, as well as an autism diagnosis for her beloved 18-month-old son Max. But from her despair emerged a heartwarming charity that's helping tens of thousands of families in need across Aotearoa.
This season, Sarah's award-winning foundation is donating brand-new presents to 22,000 Kiwi kids, spreading festive magic and above all, kindness.
The Christmas Joy Store, New Zealand's first social toy shop, was started by Sarah in 2020 as a part of her nationwide charity Kindness Collective. The pop-up store provides gifts of choice for families struggling to make ends meet, inviting parents to shop for free and pick toys their kids will love to open on Christmas morning.
"I started the Kindness Collective as a way of giving back after a really challenging period in my life," says Sarah, 43, who is based in Auckland. "I enjoyed helping others and felt useful, and gradually, I noticed my postnatal depression lifting."
After struggling to become pregnant and then suffering miscarriages, Sarah, at the time a successful marketing manager, was overjoyed when she finally became a mother to Max, now 11. But following a difficult pregnancy, she fell into depression.
When Sarah and her husband Dave, 51, noticed Max wasn't reaching the usual baby and toddler milestones, they had him assessed privately and Max was diagnosed with autism.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة December 10, 2023 من Woman’s Day Magazine NZ.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة December 10, 2023 من Woman’s Day Magazine NZ.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
LIVING WITH LONG COVID
Whether you or someone close to you is suffering, the support you get will make all the difference
WENTWORTH STAR LEAH 'I FELT SO STRONG!'
The Aussie acting legend talks love, leeches, lifting weights and her new series High Country
TV STAR SAMUEL 'NO ONE GOES ON MAFS FOR LOVE'
The skincare entrepreneur has some advice for the new contestants
Khristian's RECIPE FOR LOVE
This contestant had to choose between his partner and the MasterChef kitchen
A YEAR WITHOUT JOCK 'WE WERE TWO HALVES'
It's been 12 months of milestones and missing the beloved MasterChef Australia judge
HUGH'S KIDS TELL 'WE'LL LOOK AFTER YOU, DAD'
While the actor struggles to find his feet after his divorce, Ava and Oscar are as worried as his fans
CAM'S BODY IMAGE BATTLE 'IT'S OK NOT TO HAVE ABS!
After years of being bullied when he was younger, the CTI star wants to help empower others
HOME AND AWAY CAST DIVIDED OVER NEW ROMANCE
Ada and James' love life is the talk of the town - and Summer Bay!
THE MOMENT CHARLES MADE ZARA A PRINCESS?!
The King is on a mission to give his niece a leg-up in the monarchy
BRAD & INES' ROMANCE HEATS UP!
Life was a beach for Brad Pitt and his girlfriend Ines de Ramon as they enjoyed a romantic stroll along the waterfront in Santa Barbara last week.