Hi,
We are still operating in our three locations, Ballarat, Melbourne and Geelong as an essential community service.
The challenges are huge, as once again we are closed to our amazing volunteers, and generous goods donors. Thankfully, we can still receive donations via post and courier. We’ve never been more excited to see the postie turn up at the warehouse!
Social workers, midwives and Maternal and Child Health Nurses have even more challenges, navigating restrictions and balancing the needs of the families they support within their own COVID-19 Safe Plans.
The families you support live with significant barriers that cut them off from support and their community. For many families, the closure of Op Shops and the reduction of items in local stores have meant that they need to rely on services like Eureka Mums to be able to clothe their children.
Since 1 July 2020, because of the kindness of you and our amazing community, 320 babies and children received essential nursery equipment. Anything from a pram to enable a family to leave the house. To a cot, mattress and linen to ensure a baby has somewhere warm and safe to sleep.
The generosity we have seen from our community has been nothing short of incredible.
Thank you just doesn’t feel like enough right now. We will forever be grateful to every single person who continues to support us and our vision of a world where no baby misses out on essential nursery equipment. You are helping to keep the warehouse doors open so we can provide support to babies and children in their time of need.
I saw this recently on social media and in case you haven’t seen it, I wanted to share it with you.
What if 2020 isn’t cancelled?
What if 2020 is the year we’ve been waiting for?
A year so uncomfortable, so painful, so scary, so raw, that it finally forces us to grow.
A year that screams so loud, finally awakening us from our ignorant slumber.
A year we finally accept the need for change.
Declare change. Work for change. Become the change.
A year we finally band together, instead of pushing each other further apart.
2020 isn’t cancelled, but rather the most important year of them all.
Leslie Dwight
I’m so thankful that our community has been part of the change for many years now. At a time when we’re being called on more than ever before, thank you for everything you do for Eureka Mums. Let’s continue, together, in 2020 and for many years to come.
Take good care of yourself and your loved ones.
Warm regards,
Trinsa
Trinsa Lewis
Operations Manager
trinsa@eurekamums.org
Operating under Stage 3 restrictions
We are so grateful for the way you all assisted us with the introduction of the donation drop off booking system when restrictions were temporarily lifted. This enabled us to receive much needed items and keep everyone at a safe distance. As soon as we are allowed to go back to this process we will let you know so that we can continue to spread the love and joy of parenthood.
While we are not accepting preloved donations at this time, if you have items that can be ordered online and directly posted to our warehouse, we would be so grateful if you could use this option. Our most needed list of essential items is being posted on our social media channels weekly.
Our address is:
Eureka Mums
PO Box 5535
Redan VIC 3350.
Impactful feedback
Last financial year in numbers
Eureka Mums, St Kilda Mums and Geelong Mums assisted 20,004 children from 7,566 families throughout Victoria in the last financial year.
In our little part of the world, Eureka Mums supported 1,929 children from 737 families.
With your help, this included:
- 695 clothing bundles
- 544 nappy bundles
- 400 linen bundles
- 305 toy and book packs
- 213 car seats
- 186 toilet packs
- 122 prams
- 105 cots
And thousands more items… a total of 4,417 items in fact.
Thank you so much for everything you’ve done to contribute to this impact.
Our wonderful community
There can be so many feelings associated with making a donation to Eureka Mums. Joy that there is room in the house or garage where the items have been, reflection on the memories that were created while using the items, even pride that the items are going to help another family. One of the most common feelings associated with making a donation is sadness in the closing of a chapter in the family's story. As pointed out by this beautiful donor below, it’s a reminder that the donation is the start of a chapter for a new family.
"Our family is so happy that the things we passed onto you today will help raise some other precious little ones as they have ours!"
These lovely words came from a kind donor who dropped off a pram, carseats and bassinet. They mentioned that although they were sad about passing on the bassinet because of beautiful memories, their son encouraged it saying that "it looked after four amazing little people and now it gets to do it again."
Annual Giving Day
Thank you to everyone supporting our biggest Giving Day ever on 17 June. Nearly $350,000 was donated across our three branches. With all donations quadrupled by generous matchers, that’s an incredible $1.4 million. It was heartwarming to see all of the different ways that our community give, share and care for Eureka Mums.
We were overwhelmed by the amazing support we received this year. The team was in tears when we met our target of $32,000 in just under 2 hours, never have we seen the generosity flow so quickly. To then finish the day with an amazing $74,780 from our matchers and community was the ending of a perfect day.
Since 1 July, 320 babies and children have received essential nursery equipment. This money will ensure that we can support every family who turns to us between now and Christmas time.
Our amazing volunteers
Jen has been volunteering with Eureka Mums for just over 12 months. Her experience working in op shops meant she stepped into the role of a sorter very quickly. She has since mastered the art of bundling clothing.
Why did you start volunteering with Eureka Mums?
I was interviewed by a very gentle kind person and could see staff and volunteers were enjoying their work and volunteering time. As I value families being supported by local communities in a relaxed and special way I thought I would find Eureka Mums a happy place to be engaged with staff and volunteers. This has definitely been the case.
How did you find out about Eureka Mums?
I had heard about Eureka Mums from the owners of the building.
Favourite Food?
In my younger years I spent time in Thailand and enjoyed Kuai-Tiago. A chargrilled hawkers noodle dish with a variety of toppings.
Favourite Book?
Love Letter from my Father.
Favourite Movie?
Babe and Charlotte’s Web.
Favourite Guilty Pleasure?
Red wine and cheese followed by coffee and baked cheesecake
Dream Holiday Destination?
Nordic cruise followed by Camino de Santiago
Double Impact Donation
With restrictions in place in Victoria, metro retailers have closed their doors and many regional stores are being severely impacted due to the lack of tourists. You can support them AND help a struggling family by placing an online order for needed items and shipping it to Eureka Mums.
We'll make sure it's quickly distributed right where it's needed most.
We are low in stock on almost everything right now. Please check our website for items we can and can't rehome.
