A precious gift: Kids in Care ACT works to ensure no child is fogotten on Christmas morning

A roomful of donated toys was on Thursday officially handed over to Kids in Care ACT, a charity started by ACT Policing's Detective Sergeant John Giles just before Christmas 2013 when he attended a home in Canberra and found four neglected children.

"There was a beautiful little four-year-old girl and, to be honest, she reminded me a little of my own daughter and she said, 'Come and see my Christmas tree' and we went in and the Christmas tree was a branch with a bauble on it and we were just furious," he said.

"Mum and dad were off their nut and these kids had not eaten in days. The clothes that they were wearing were the only clothes that they owned."

The children went into care.

"I said to [Child and Youth Protection Services], 'At least these kids will get something for Christmas and they said, 'Actually, they won't because we don't have a budget for that. All we have is a budget to house and look after them'," Detective Sergeant Giles said.

Detective Sergeant Giles and his colleagues started seeking toy donations. They soon received too many for one family. But many more children were going without.

They started a relationship with Children and Youth Protection Services who continue to distribute the toys, the need ever growing.

"We decided that day we were going to do everything we could to make sure kids were going to be looked after into the future," Detective Sergeant Giles said.

"Unfortunately, that demand has grown. Every year, it just seems to get bigger and bigger."

Kids in Care has grown to the point where it can also supply presents all year to children supported by Child and Youth Protection Services.

Those children include kids with foster carers, emergency carers, people providing temporary accommodation, extended families looking after children and other families who are struggling.

Kids in Care has also expanded to provide Go Bags for children put into last minute emergency or

Louise Bourke, a team leader with Children and Youth Protection Services, said the donated presents meant "everything".

"The children can wake up and know Santa's arrived. It's so special," she said.

Kids in Care ACT director Detective Senior Constable Alex Uren said she felt privileged to be involved in the charity, which relied on donations and volunteers to ensure all proceeds went to the cause.

"As ACT police officers, we go out and we see people in the community who are struggling basically every day at work. It's pretty gut-wrenching to see," she said.

Detective Senior Constable Uren said COVID had affected the charity this year but Canberra's generosity had not dimmed.

"But because of this amazing community that we are a part of and all of our sponsors, we've been able to raise just as much money as we have on other years," she said.

Icon Water, a sponsor of Kids in Care ACT, also donated $10,000 on Thursday to continue its support of the charity.

Icon Water's Davina McCormick said it was pleased to make the donation after so much uncertainty during 2020.

"We know that Christmas can be a really special time for families," Ms McCormick said.

"But we also know not all children get to experience the joy of decorating a tree, putting treats out for Santa and opening presents on Christmas morning. We know those children deserve better and we want a better experience for them and to give them joy at Christmas, like all children deserve."

The Kids in Care team will be wrapping gifts outside Woden and Gungahlin Big W stories for a gold coin donation every Saturday during December until Christmas.