Give your best for #DoSomething Day today
CELEBRITIES, charities and everyday Aussies have have all chipped in for #DoSomething Day today through volunteering, donations and random acts of kindness.
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IT was the day when thousands of Sydneysiders took a moment out from their busy routines to lend a hand, no matter how small, to bless their fellow man.
#DoSomething Day saw everything from shouting a stranger a cup of coffee, donating blood, or helping a neighbour with a chore all the way through to serving with one of the hundreds of worthwhile local volunteer organisations.
The day is an initiative of NewsLocal newspapers, the charity Do Something and ClubsNSW, whose member clubs organised a range of events to give back to the community.
NewsLocal papers across Sydney shone a light on community activities throughout the day including cleaning up local beaches, feeding the homeless, planting trees and book swaps.
NewsLocal Editor-in-chief Kathy Lipari said it was wonderful to see people from all over the country get involved in DoSomething Day, shining a light on the amazing work volunteers do and engaging in random acts of kindness.
DoSomething co-founder and managing director Jon Dee agreed.
“It’s really positive seeing Australians give back to the community in such a big way,” Mr Dee said.
“Whether it’s Meals on Wheels, your local RSPCA shelter or your local charity op shop, there are lots of causes we can help in our local communities. DoSomething Day has succeeded in making people aware of the many ways we can give back.
“Here at the DoSomething charity we’re really grateful to NewsLocal and ClubsNSW for making DoSomething Day such a big success.”
ClubsNSW CEO Anthony Ball said he was extremely proud of the efforts made by their member clubs for Do Something Day 2017.
“It was an enormous success. Clubs right across the state got involved by holding charity drives, hosting lunches for volunteer groups, and donating their time to local charities,” Mr Ball said.
“Clubs are committed to making valuable contributions to their communities, so it was great fit for the industry to give their best and get behind this celebration of volunteering, donating and acts of kindness.”
2GB radio host Ben Fordham got into the spirit of DoSomething Day, doing a live broadcast from Revesby Workers’ Club from 3pm-6pm.
Club members snapped up Ben’s Bangers, a special sausage cooked up on the day with the proceeds of gold coin donations going to the Asbestos Diseases Foundation, matched dollar for dollar by ClubsNSW.
Few activities could match the joy brought on by the surprise Christmas in July party held for sick children and their families at Ronald McDonald House in Westmead.
Castle Hill RSL, Parramatta RSL and Lynwood Country Club, together with former Parramatta Eel Nathan Hindmarsh; staff from NewsCorp Australia papers the Hills Shire Times, Rouse Hill Times and Parramatta Advocate; and Event Cinemas Castle Hill and Parramatta, transformed Ronald McDonald House into a Christmas wonderland.
The children and their families returned from their hospital treatments to the surprise party, taking part in Christmas cookie decorating, Christmas pizza making, a candy bar, Christmas craft, face painting, balloons, entertainers, presents and, of course a visit from the man in red himself, Santa.
Ronald McDonald House Westmead Executive Officer Belinda Woolford said the charity relies heavily on community and corporate support to keep their doors open 365 days of the year.
“Having a group like Castle Hill RSL donate their time to host a Winter Wonderland-themed dinner means that families with seriously ill children won’t have to come home to the stress of worrying about preparing a healthy dinner, but it also brings a sense of fun and normalcy to the House as the kids play together,” she said.
Celebrities also played their part on the day.
Sunrise sports presenter Mark Beretta got on board early, kicking off training for his ninth Tour de Cure Charity ride to raise funds to uncover a cure for cancer.
“Over the last 10 years @tourdecureaus has funded over 200 research projects producing 21 major breakthroughs,” Beretta told his 50,000 Instagram followers.
“We save lives and I’m most proud of that.”
Meanwhile, former NRL player and ambassador for the Sea Eagles and NSWRL Steve Menzies signed up to raise money for the Mark Hughes Foundation by doing a charity hike to Everest Base Camp.
#DoSomething Day kicked off this morning with Sydney radio duo Fitzy and Wippa giving flood victim Amie a cheque to replace her damaged furniture.
The Nova 969 hosts presented Amie with a cheque to replace her fridge, washer, dryer, TV, iPad, XBox and toys for the kids.
“We’re going to get you back on your feet quicker Ames,” Ryan ‘Fitzy’ Fitzgerald told a tearful Amie over the phone.
“Thank you so much. I don’t know what to say, I am so grateful,” she replied.
“Don’t be silly Amie, on DoSomething Day we wanted to help you out,” Fitzy said.
Awwww! We gave flood victim Amie a special surprise for #DoSomethingDay thanks to @ClubsNSW #giveyourbest #yourlocalclub pic.twitter.com/OEIFCgSbBA
— Fitzy & Wippa (@fitzyandwippa) July 18, 2017
Meanwhile, Vera Lee, one of 80 volunteers at the Waverton Hub, hosted a free qigong session for retirees as part of #DoSomething! Day and said the ancient practice has immense health benefits.
“What we’re doing is is trying to prevent or slow down dementia,” she said. “You certainly feel a lot better once you’ve done it for at least a day.”
Once the class finished, the reinvigorated pensioners took a volunteer-led yoga class, before heading for coffee and meeting with the hub’s knitting group.
Hub president, Helen L’Orange, said the hub was formed four years ago to keep older residents active.
“We are trying to overcome social isolation and help people live longer, healthier lives,” she said.
Hundreds of other Sydneysiders also got on board for #DoSomething Day — buying treats for their colleagues, giving blood, and helping injured animals — with the #dosomethingday hastag trending at no. 1 on Twitter in Australia.
Volunteer for @SydneyWildlife1 Philippa Hoffman taking calls to help sick or injured wildlife across the city #dosomethingday pic.twitter.com/mvjeCogAn1
— The Manly Daily (@ManlyDaily) July 19, 2017
Treats for colleagues #DoSomethingDay #GiveYourBest pic.twitter.com/bOWi8uop1v
— Penrith Press (@PenrithPress) July 19, 2017
Staying A positive on #dosomethingday by giving my best pic.twitter.com/5QbFwGrbBU
— Trevor Seymour (@TrevorTSeymour) July 18, 2017
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