Over the years I have seen many instances where the community has needed to be supported. It is during those times that we see our community step up and support those in need.
I will never forget how our community came together during COVID and also during the 2022 floods. The saying ‘it takes a village’ rings true when it comes to supporting our community. We are that village, and we care deeply for each other.
There are so many people and organisations doing such great work every single day to help those in need.
Azem and his team of volunteers at People Supporting People do such an amazing job providing meals and assistance to the homeless or those in need of support and the need continues to grow.
I am often contacted when someone in the community needs help, and the requests can vary greatly. For example, I had a family of five whose fridge died and they were not in a position to replace it. I put the call out through social media and a really good fridge was donated, in fact we had three offered.
Just recently, when a family from Wunghnu lost all their possessions in a fire on Christmas Eve and had no contents insurance, the community came together and donated furniture and household items. A GoFundMe page was also set up. It is significant when everything is lost in a fire, and the contents not only include household items, clothes, and personal belongings, but also floor and window coverings.
I contacted Darryl Remnant who was supporting the Wunghnu family and we teamed up and worked together to manage the furniture donations and deliveries. I wasn’t surprised by the response and the enormous amount of donations that were coming in. The family are being so well supported. A huge thank you to everyone who has donated so far.
For some time, I have been thinking about how we can be more prepared when a need arises. What we really need is a permanent storage space so that we have items on hand when we need it.
Often, I am contacted by people wanting to donate great household items, but I do not need them at the time. Many people’s circumstances change, or they might be replacing household items. We recently had an Airbnb owner who donated all the furniture and household items from two houses they recently sold.
Daryl has been so inspired by the generosity of the community, and he really wants to continue to provide this support to the community. He is also really keen to set up something more permanent.
So, we are putting the call out to see if anyone has a small warehouse or some space that might be suitable for us to store furniture and household items. We are also in the initial stages of setting up a not-for-profit organisation, so we have a strong and secure presence in the community.
It is early stages, but we both want to see this happen and are looking at our options. A donated space would be ideal, and we know that is a big ask, but you never know what’s out there or who is willing to jump on board unless you ask.
How great would it be to have items available when they are needed. It would save a lot of pressure of trying to obtain items in the moment of distress. It would be so great to be able to help more people in need as well as provide a place for quality donations. It is a Win Win!
Anyone who may be able to assist is encouraged to contact Ms O’Keefe or Daryl on the below numbers:
Kim – 5831 6944
Darryl – 0490 365 608
