GEGAC staff Wendy Barter, Sarah Baxter and Rhiannon Hayes with Carol Dicker from the Share The Dignity organization. Photos: Jake Lynch/GEGAC
How good are people?
Christmas was a little bit more special for many kids and families in our community last year, thanks to a number of very generous donations from charitable people and organisations locally and across Victoria.
Once again we are very grateful to the remarkable nonprofit Share The Dignity, which for a number of years has worked with GEGAC to provide care bags for women who are experiencing homelessness, fleeing domestic violence or otherwise doing it tough.
The bags and goods were donated by a large network of local people, and distributed by super volunteer Carol Dicker.
Thank you Carol, and all the generous people that power Share The Dignity’s important work.
Another charitable organisation that always steps up for our community is Backpacks 4 Vic Kids.
Backpacks 4 Vic Kids donates quality backpacks filled with essential items for kids that are homeless or entering out-of-home care or emergency accommodation.
They’ve been donating to GEGAC for many years, and this Christmas provided more than $15,000 worth of gear for kids – toiletries, clothing, sleepwear, a torch, blanket and a toy or activity – which we will then be able to give to our youngsters in out-of-home care or emergency accommodation.
Powerful.
Christmas really is a time when some folks let their giving spirit shine.
We also received a surprise donation of Christmas presents for children from a charitable group of local people calling themselves the East Gippsland Coffee Club.
The women and men of the Coffee Club have spent much of the past year stockpiling gifts, sourcing donations and even making presents.
Prior to Christmas some of our new Extended Community Care staff were given the not-so-tough job of collecting and distributing some of these donations.
If you haven’t met them already, say hello to Kinship Case Contracting Case Manager Jaslyn McLennan, Targeted Care Package Key Workers Cali Sherlock and Ben O’Doherty, Targeted CarePackage Youth Worker Jodie Willshire and Cultural Support Planner Taylah Carter.
And we are also very grateful to the good folks behind the East Gippsland Community Christmas appeal for their support over the holiday season.