Hawkesbury’s Helping Hands reach out to needy and wins Pride of Australia Community Spirit Award

FOR single mum Linda Strickland and her young daughter Cassidy, winning the NSW Pride of Australia Community Spirit Award last Wednesday was a most humbling experience.

Pride Of Australia Medal Ceremony

Who: Hawkesbury’s Helping Hands based in Windsor

What they do: Provide food, clothing, toiletries and bedding to the needy, homeless and single parents

Organisation: Registered charity, run by a six-member board

Awards: 2014: NSW Pride of Australia Community Spirit Award

2013: NSW Local Woman of the Year: Linda Strickland

Women with Altitude Local Hero Award: Linda Strickland

Women with Altitude Community Spirit Finalists: Hawkesbury’s Helping Hands

2012: Hawkesbury Young Citizen of the Year: Cassidy Strickland

What they need: Non-perishable food, money, clothing

Motto: Give with love, kindness and compassion as much as we can

Details: 4501 1136 or Facebook page

FOR single mum Linda Strickland and her young daughter Cassidy, winning the NSW Pride of Australia Community Spirit Award last Wednesday was a most humbling experience.

Having started Hawkesbury’s Helping Hands three years ago after Cassidy found a homeless man digging in their rubbish bin for food, the Stricklands are stunned to be honoured for what they consider just a normal thing people would do.

Their two-bedroom home in Windsor is the ‘go-to’ place for the needy with the garage and one bedroom being their storage areas.

“It was humbling just to be in the same place as all these other awesome finalists and we are very honoured,” Ms Strickland, 51, said.

“We were very surprised when our names were announced and if someone told us three years ago that we will be in this position, I would have told them they were nuts.

“We were excited to be in the same room as these people and there was a tangible energy around us.

“This award will bring more awareness about the homeless people in our community and I have also received calls from people who want to set up similar organisations around Australia.”

The Windsor local, who has brought up Cassidy, 12, single-handedly, has made around 50,000 food packages since 2011 and each week packs between 20-30 hampers, with the help of dedicated volunteers.

If this is not enough, they have recently begun collecting and handing over formal dresses and suits, with Mrs Strickland saying she knows first hand the feeling of not being able to afford formals.

Ms Strickland, who works part-time in Riverstone, says she receives calls for help from morning to night while even the big charities including Salvos and Vinnies also ask her help to provide urgently needed stuff.

“On Cassidy’s sixth birthday, I knew she was special when wrote in her invitation that she didn’t want a present and instead to donate to a children’s charity,” Ms Strickland said.

“I cried when I read it and still tear up when I think about it.

“We now have some great volunteers while we are indebted to Brian Weiner, who has got us a brand new van after hearing about us on a radio show.

“Before the van, I used to drive my car to pick up or deliver stuff and this van has made a huge difference.

“Our next goal is to have a drop in centre where the homeless can have a bath each day, wash their clothes or use computers.

“There are more homeless people in Hawkesbury now than when we started with many sleeping in their cars.

“My advice to other is the importance of kindness and if you see someone in need, lend a helping hand.”

Thanks to the volunteers, Ms Strickland and her daughter will finally take some time off to enjoy a holiday next January.