’Devastating’: Organisation facing threat of closure issues public plea
A Toowoomba charity which helps vulnerable children, is in crisis and facing the risk of closure due to the growing cost of living pressures leaving them unable to meet demand. Here’s how you can help keep them afloat.
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Stability, dignity, self-esteem and a sense of belonging are things all humans deserve but for vulnerable children in our region they are sadly things they long to feel.
Since Hope For Our Children was established in Toowoomba in 2013, the organisation has distributed nearly 2000 backpacks full of supplies to children in need across the region.
But the charity, which relies heavily on donations from the community, is now at risk of closure with a rise in demand combined with an unprecedented loss of donations.
Hope For Our Children spokeswoman Selena Protheroe said 79 backpacks had already been distributed this year with an outstanding 68 orders to fulfil.
With 219 orders completed for the entirety of 2022, the spokeswoman said it was a substantial increase considering it’s only March.
“Our shelves are totally empty,” she said.
“In the past six months especially we have noticed the donations have really dropped off and I imagine it’s because families are really struggling with the rising cost of living.
“I understand it’s hard for everybody right now but for us to help these children we really do need the community to continue supporting us.”
Every backpack contains a blanket, teddy bear, toy, book, beanie, hat, socks, underwear, water bottle, stationery and a pair of both summer and winter pyjamas.
Toiletries such as travel sized shampoo, conditioner, soap, female hygiene products, toothpaste, a toothbrush, hair brush and washer are also included in the pack.
The organisation also accepts financial donations but requests all items are brand new to ensure the children who receive the products feel worthy.
While the Toowoomba charity has focused predominantly on assisting children who are at risk of or removed from their homes, the organisation will soon also start providing its services to refugees and children fleeing domestic violence.
“We can’t continue to provide these services if we don’t have the finance or resources available and that would be devastating to see the impact that would have,” Ms Protheroe said.
“Granted I’ve only been with the organisation for a few years but this is unseen … having orders we cannot fulfil because we have not received enough donations is not something I’ve seen before.
“Every dollar counts. We have lovely people in our community to donate handmade quilts and toiletry bags or people who find pyjamas on sale for a dollar.”
Ms Protheroe said many of the children the organisation assisted were removed from their homes in the middle of the night and only had time to fill “a garbage bag with a few items”.
With some of those items being unclean or worn, she said giving these children a fresh set or pyjamas to wear to bed or a toy which is theirs to keep made a huge difference.
Toowoomba foster mums Dominique, Ingrid and Jodie, who have requested their first names are used only for privacy reasons, have witnessed the benefits of the organisation since they began caring for children seven years ago.
“It’s so important that these children have belongings of their own because they arrive with nothing in a house with other children who have everything,” Dominique said.
“These kids just want to feel worthy and have dignity and all humans have a right to those things.”
Ingrid, who does mostly short-term care said Hope For Our Children, had been a game-changer for foster parents too as these costs would otherwise fall back on them.
She said with many children who have been removed from their homes, the backpack donations offered a sense of stability.
“Especially with short-term stays, these children don’t know if they’re staying or going so these items really give them a sense of belonging,” she said.
“Some of these kids have gone without and suddenly they aren’t the child at school who doesn’t have what the other kids do – they’re so proud to carry their bags and water bottles.”
Ms Protheroe said the organisation also welcomed bulk corporate donations who may have items branded with logos.
Donations can be dropped off at the centre on Tuesday and Thursday between 9am and 3pm but out of hour deliveries can also be arranged.
For more information please phone 4638 5768 or visit hopeforourchildren.com.au
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