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Dimitri Damianos is coordinating an effort to provide thousands of presents for kids across Melbourne hospitals this Christmas, but he insists the community should get the credit for coming together behind the initiative, not him.
Nonetheless, Damianos, who is an auctioneer and sales consultant at Buxton Oakleigh, is certainly the driving force behind the initiative. As a kid, having been on the receiving end of community support, he deeply understands how one person’s bright idea can have a meaningful impact on a large scale.
After several years taking part in the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Melbourne’s Christmas time appeal collecting and distributing presents to less fortunate families around the city, Damianos wondered if there was a way to make sure kids spending time in hospitals over the holidays were able to join in the Christmas cheer.
“I wanted to ensure that we are not forgetting about those who are doing it tough at the moment. Christmas, while exciting, can also be quite nerve-wracking and anxiety-producing for many,” Damianos shared, noting that it can be particularly hard for sick kids who can’t be home for the holidays.
Receiving an unexpected gift, the thought, could maybe take their minds off their situation for "a minute, or an hour, or even better a day”.
Deciding this was something he could coordinate, Damianos called around to local hospitals and with the help of his team, set the wheels in motion.
Distribution would be easy (complete with Damianos dressed in a Santa outfit), but collecting the gifts required perhaps the biggest effort of all.
That’s where Damianos’ community came in. He put the word out, and it clearly spread.
“I have been fortunate that I have had people physically drop off presents to our office at Buxton Oakleigh, quite literally, strangers from the street, which has been amazing. As well as this, my partner, Sophia, and work colleague Sienna have also been picking up items from people’s homes. And additionally, we’ve had monetary donations to allow us to go out and purchase gifts,” he told REB.
With the present pouring in, he insists that “it’s the community coming together more than anything” that has allowed this project to succeed.
“I feel I get more credit than I deserve,” he said, noting that he’s sharing his story because just as his work with his church inspired him to feel he could run a similar initiative, his project might make others consider what they can do “off their own back”.
For his part, Damianos is hoping to make his hospital toy drive bigger and better next year, viewing 2024’s effort as “a small dent into what I truly believe we can achieve moving forward”.
If he becomes more well-known among the locals as Santa than the local salesperson or auctioneer, that suits Damianos just fine.
“I personally don’t want to be just known as a real estate agent. I am human first, agent second.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Juliet Helmke
Based in Sydney, Juliet Helmke has a broad range of reporting and editorial experience across the areas of business, technology, entertainment and the arts. She was formerly Senior Editor at The New York Observer.
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