Fairy Meadow grandmother Judy Hunt has been donating to an annual Christmas toy drive since its inception in 2012.
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"I just like to know that kids aren't going without over Christmas," she said.
"It gives me a lot of joy just to buy those couple of extra gifts, and make sure the kids have something.
"It makes it easier for those Mums to know that there's something at the end of the rainbow I suppose. That they're going to be able to provide something for their children, and not have to maybe explain, 'oh sorry, Santa forgot you'."
Read more: The hidden faces of the Illawarra's homeless
Kathy Colyer is CEO of Supported Accommodation & Homelessness Services Shoalhaven Illawarra, a not-for-profit specialist homelessness service supporting vulnerable women and families.
Ms Colyer said more than 200 children, from toddlers to teenagers, were currently being supported by SAHSSI.
"The women we support have become homeless for a number of reasons - domestic violence being the main one," she said.
"And sometimes they turn up to our service with nothing."
Keira MP Ryan Park launched his ninth annual Christmas Toy Drive on Friday. Anyone wishing to participate can purchase a gift for any age group between newborns and teenagers, and donate it to the cause.
In mid-December, the donations will be given to SAHSSI and the Wollongong Homeless Hub, who will distribute them to clients.
"Last year, (of our clients) no children went without gifts for Christmas," Ms Colyer said of the appeal.
"The Mums, there's just no words for it. They were just so grateful to the community."
Mr Park said the drive continued to "get bigger and bigger" each year.
Mr Park said they were aiming to support up to about 500 families throughout the Illawarra this year.
"Perhaps this year more than most, because of the difficulties so many people have had, we hope the community gets out there, purchases an extra toy and really supports what is now hundreds of vulnerable families right across the Illawarra," he told the Mercury.
"It's just a small way of making their Christmas a little happier and a little brighter."
Donations can be dropped in at Mr Park's office at 247 Princes Highway, Corrimal.
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