City of Whittlesea-based charity organisation Big Group Hug is asking the community to donate essential items for a clean, safe and comfortable festive season for children.
Every year, Big Group Hug extends a helping hand to more than 3000 families across Victoria by supplying essential material aid for children aged newborn to 16 years.
This year’s campaign ‘A Clean and Comfy Christmas’ is making sure that no child goes without’ is gearing up ahead of the Christmas period.
Big Group Hug is seeking high-demand essentials such as toiletries – that must be brand new – and single, cot and bassinet bed linen.
As always, the organisation needs new and preloved prams, cots and car seats.
This year alone, Big Group Hug supported more than 6000 children from more than 3000 families distributing 120,000 essential material aid items – a 41 per cent increase in requests for aid in the previous financial year.
Marketing coordinator Emina Mesinovic said with families currently doing it tough, ensuring children had access to basic hygiene and safe bedding was ‘incredibly important’.
“We want to bring confidence, comfort, and dignity to children and families facing disadvantage or financial hardship,” she said.
“Our most needed items right now are single bed sheets, wipes and toiletries for both children and adults.
“We understand that running a goods drive may not be everyone’s cup of tea, so there are a number of other ways people can get involved. All of the different methods are listed on the website.”
Between now and December 1, individuals and businesses can sign-up and collect donations to be dropped off at the Airport West warehouse by December 6 or the Thomastown warehouse by December 8.
Another option is to fundraise – creating a fundraising page on the Big Group Hug festive appeal website or raise funds offline – and will need to let Big Group know of the fundraising efforts.
Ms Mesinovic said people who are time poor, or prefer to shop online, can always place an online order and request delivery to their Thomastown HQ.
“Your generous contributions can make a substantial difference in the lives of children and their families during this festive season,” she said.
To get involved, people can find more details on the different donating methods and how to sign up at festiveappeal.biggrouphug.org.
