Giving and receiving gifts creates a moment of connection.
This moment is only amplified when it is unexpected or from someone you don’t know personally. The essentials that we rehome and gift from St Kilda Mums, Geelong Mums and Eureka Mums exist because of you, our wonderful supporters.
Families who need a bit of extra support are often linked to multiple professionals or agencies, and when this important support is complemented with a gift for their children, it’s a catalyst for connection. We are incredibly proud to support maternal child health nurses, social workers and practitioners’ professional impact so that vulnerable Victorian children can thrive.
I recently received a gorgeous long letter and I wanted to share some amazing excerpts with you. *identifying information has been edited for privacy purposes*
‘Pam’ has retired and been volunteering at a regional Victorian hospital for a number of years. In recent months, the social work team has requested items from us for new families and children in their care. Pam takes great delight and enjoyment delivering these essentials to the babies and children.
“I just felt I needed to write to you and say that volunteering with our local social worker on this particular project is the best thing I’ve done in my life and I am so grateful to her and your organisation for allowing me to have the delightful task of making so many families very happy and relieving them of a lot of stress and worry.
“We cover a very large area with a number of our families living in smaller towns and on farms. Some of them are quite isolated in more ways than one.
“It’s a real surprise when we have produced your beautifully presented clothes, bassinet sets etc. They had thought we were going to produce maybe a couple of little outfits for their new baby and it was wonderful to see their faces when they saw the parcels.
“A first-time Dad was struggling with providing some of the basic items and was having ‘heart palpitations’ thinking about buying the larger items. We were able to gift him and his wife a beautiful pram and he was quite overcome when he saw it.
“Another mum came in to see us with her new baby and her other three children. We were able to give her clothes for them all and her 5 year old daughter was so happy with a pair of runners that she sat down and put them on straight away with a big smile on her face.”
The connection created by giving and receiving is the fuel that drives us to ensure we fulfill our vision of supporting every child in Victoria that needs us by 2030.
The best start in life – that’s our jam.
Babies require so much of their parents and caregivers. The stress parents feel if they are unable to provide the essential items for their child to thrive is extraordinary.
As the Senior Operations & Networks Manager at St Kilda Mums, Geelong Mums and Eureka Mums, I lead a team of fabulous staff who ensure our charity rehomes essentials to give kids the best start in life. The first 2000 days of a child’s life shapes a child's future and we are committed to sharing resources with families who need our support.
I want to share with you a story about a mum who recently arrived from Afghanistan with her 12 month old without any belongings. Not only was she learning how to navigate an Australian life, she was ensuring her child had access to the health services she needed. The solution lay in a re-homed pram from us. This pram provided the perfect tool for her to learn public transport, sit in waiting rooms and shop for food with her child. Her everyday experience was mirrored back to her with other parents with their child in their pram living the same experiences. A feeling of inclusion lay at the heart of the gift of this pram.
All of the families we support are linked to an agency or support service such as a maternal child health nurse and we take great pride in complementing their programs that place the child at the centre of their approach. These professionals are skilled advocates and value our service enormously.
Over recent years, Melbourne has become home for many refugees and asylum seekers who arrive with nothing. AMES, Dandenong City Council, Spectrum, South East Links, IPC are all agencies who collectively have supported hundreds of new families arriving into Melbourne and regional Victoria.
Last year, 4,579 newly arrived children were supported by St Kilda Mums, Geelong Mums and Eureka Mums. Many of these orders included 10 or more items and would cost $800 - $1200 to purchase as new for these families. Things like nappies, wipes, bottles, a safe place to sleep, warm clothes, bed linen, car seats, books, toys and prams are all provided along with the gamechanger – the pram.
And it was all thanks to people like you. Your ongoing support is so important. Whether you donate goods, donate money or donate your time to volunteer, your generosity means we can continue to help give babies the best start in life.
"Recently I was on a home visit to a new mum who had been placed in emergency housing. I was able to supply her with Nappies, wipes, steriliser and beanies supplied to by the lovely people at Eureka Mums. My request was filled quickly.
It's hard enough for a first time mum to organise a visit to the shops in the first few weeks being home from hospital but, add the difficulty of being on her own and with all the fear associated with the COVID- 19, these few items help her feel better about the safety of her young child."
]]>Imagine suddenly finding yourself the sole carer of a new born baby. This was a reality for Rose – she chose to do something amazing, but she couldn’t do it without your help.
Last week, Rose found out that she would become the sole carer of a tiny premature baby girl - Mia. Rose is a single grandmother, already caring for her 9 year old grandson, and is best placed to take care of Mia.
Rose felt overwhelmed by what lay ahead. As you can imagine, the addition of a baby has put a lot of financial stress on her. Her social worker describes her as a very proud woman who feels that she shouldn't ask for anything as she has always supported herself and her family. Mia arrived on her doorstep with just one bottle, a packet of nappies and some wipes.
Rose's social worker contacted us and we provided formula, nappies, bedding, a pram, car restraint, cot and clothing that will keep Mia warm this winter.
What Rose chose to do was selfless, amazing and daunting. We are delighted to have been able to help her.
]]>"It is great that this invaluable service you and your team of volunteers work so tirelessly for has been so greatly received and supported by the community.
I have had the privilege to see the growth of the organisation over a number of years now (I still remember collecting goods from when you were running out of your carport!) and, I would like to take this opportunity to say a massive THANK YOU on behalf of all of the families who have benefited from this very generous service.
I have had multiple occasions when dropping off a van load of goodies where the family has shed tears of gratitude for the items provided.
Countless times I had heard comments along the lines of “Is this All for us!” or “Are you sure I don’t have to pay anything?” and “I cant believe people are so generous, this is unbelieveable!”
So please, please keep going with this amazing and unique work; as your figures clearly show, the need is only getting greater!"
]]>These beautiful words arrived today from a social worker. The benefits of having safe car seats is so much more than just a safe method of transport.
"I would like to say thank you for all of the donations and hard work that goes in to Eureka Mums. I was fortunate enough to provide car seats to a family that have 3 young children.
Prior to this the mother was having to do two trips everywhere as she only had 2 car seats in the car. With 3 car seats that met safety standards, it has meant that this mother could fit all of her children in the car at the same time and is able to take them all to appointments or out for day trips without having to leave one behind with family.
This has made a huge difference to the relationship this mother has with her children and has allowed her the flexibility and freedom to do more with her children. Thank you so much."
Jemima Christie
Families First Practitioner
Child & Family Services Ballarat Inc. (CAFS)
A pram is not just a pram - it represents freedom to get out into the world, break down the isolation of being house bound.
]]>Leanne is a Maternal & Child Health Nurse and she explains the importance of a pram.
A pram is not just a pram - it represents freedom to get out into the world, break down the isolation of being house bound.
A car seat is not just a seat - it represents safety of passage for a newborn or child during car travel.
A cot or a bassinet is not just a bed - it's a safe place to rest a weary infant.
Many families struggle to provide food on the table and appropriate clothing to wear. I see first-hand the difference it makes to be able to offer families material aid.
I also see the dignity it restores. They want to provide these things for their infants and young children.
As a Maternal & Child Health Nurse I rely on Eureka Mums to provide safe equipment. It is critical that it meets Australian safety standards.
Part of my role as a Maternal & Child Health Nurse is to ensure that all infants are safe. That all infants sleep in a safe place.
Eliminating risk and promoting safe sleep is the work of Red Nose Foundation.
The numbers of Sudden Infant Death has dropped exponentially over the past 40 years. Much of this owing to Red Nose education.
Many families are facing challenges and don't have safe equipment for their children.
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