Christmas can be a difficult time for Australian families doing it tough, and every year the team at Barnardos Australia works hard to gather toy donations to ensure disadvantaged children can wake up on Christmas morning with a present to open.
Barnardos Australia is a registered charity that works tirelessly to support vulnerable children, youth and their families. Barnardos has reported an increasing demand for help as the cost-of-living crisis continues to put additional strain on average Australian families who simply can’t afford presents this Christmas. Melissa Cooke, Barnardos Program Manager, reports that since COVID their team receives requests for help from around 1800 families a month - a significant increase from the 300 previously cared for prior to this period. Barnardos is also seeing calls for support from greater areas of Sydney. Where the Centre’s services previously focused on the immediate surrounds of Penrith, Barnardos volunteers based at the Penrith Family Centre are now travelling further to reach areas such as Parramatta and surrounds simply due to the increase in demand of families needing help.
To assist Barnardos with preparing the toy donations in time for Christmas, a group of kind volunteers on behalf of the Australian Mutuals Foundation travelled to the Barnardos Support Centre for Youth and Families in Penrith to lend a hand. There, they were greeted by Barnardos staff who would explain the purpose of the day, and also share stories of the families and children they would be directly helping.
Keen to get started, volunteers from Australian Mutual Bank and G & C Mutual Bank enthusiastically opened boxes of donations throughout the day, excited to see the toys that awaited packing. The team of volunteers carefully sorted through a range of donated goods that would see babies, children, and teenagers receive a thoughtful gift. Toy donations had been collected throughout the year from kindhearted individuals and organisations all looking to play their part in supporting this important initiative.
Rebecca, one of the volunteers assisting on the day, was proud to be part of the event. “It was great to be a part of something that can bring happiness to a child’s face and the wonderful support of the business community for all the donations. Spending the day with other volunteers was great fun!”.
Ania, another volunteer, repeated this sentiment reporting a sense of fulfillment and accomplishment for being involved. “It was amazing to see the support Barnardos give to their local families. Through their hard work and dedication many families can participate in Christmas celebrations with their children. We all take for granted just how special that is. Thank you Barnardos for allowing me to be a part of this very special cause."
The efforts of the volunteers ensured hundreds of presents were prepared and ready for Barnardos to distribute to babies, children, and teenagers currently supported by Barnardos services.
Barnardos continues to work towards helping even more families in need, in an effort to bring smiles and festive cheer to as many disadvantaged children as possible. The yearly Gifts for Kids Appeal is on once again, aiming to give the thousands of children and young people in care, some of whom have experienced abuse, neglect, poverty and homelessness, a chance to receive a gift for the very first time on Christmas Day. If you would like to help this Christmas, please visit www.barnardos.org.au/get-involved/gift-for-kids
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