Kiddipedia
As cost-of-living pressures continue to put families under strain, one Victorian charity is giving the community the opportunity to make twice the difference for vulnerable babies and children.
Our Village’s Double Donation Day Winter Appeal is aiming to raise a total of $268,000 to help provide essential items for children experiencing hardship across the state. Thanks to generous support from companies, philanthropic foundations and individual donors, every contribution made to the campaign from Tuesday 16th June is being matched dollar-for-dollar until the fundraising target is reached.
For families struggling with rising rents, increasing grocery bills and mounting everyday expenses, access to basic essentials can make a huge difference.
Our Village supports around 20,000 vulnerable babies and children across Victoria each year by collecting and rehoming high-quality pre-loved items, including cots, prams, clothing, books and toys. Working closely with social workers and maternal and child health nurses, the charity helps ensure families receive practical support when they need it most.
But with demand continuing to grow, financial support for the charity has become more important than ever.
According to Our Village CEO Ruth Holdaway, many parents and carers are facing difficult choices as the cost of living continues to climb.
“Our Village exists because every child deserves the essentials they need to thrive, but right now families across Victoria are being stretched beyond their limits,” she says.
“When rent rises, food prices increase and filling up the car becomes harder, something has to give. Too often it’s the essentials children rely on to feel safe, warm and cared for.”
The appeal’s matching program means donations go twice as far, allowing the organisation to help even more families.
For context, a donation of $59 becomes $118, helping provide two clothing bundles to keep babies warm during winter. A contribution of $123 becomes $246, helping provide two prams for families in need, while a gift of $201 becomes $402, helping provide two cots and giving vulnerable babies a safe place to sleep.
“Thanks to our generous partners, every dollar donated during this campaign will be doubled, meaning we can help twice as many children with essentials like warm clothes, safe sleeping spaces and prams.”
The charity is currently receiving close to 50 requests for help every day, highlighting the growing need for support across Victoria.
Behind the scenes, volunteers carefully safety-check, clean, sort and pack donated items before they are distributed to families. Financial contributions help cover these vital processes and ensure essentials reach children as quickly as possible.
While many families are feeling the effects of higher living costs, Double Donation Day offers a simple way for the wider community to come together and support those doing it toughest.
“We can’t control rising prices, but we can help protect children from the impact,” Ruth continues.
“When people donate, they are helping build a community of care around babies and children, making sure they have the practical essentials they need and assuring parents and carers they are not alone.”
Ruth says the appeal is ultimately about ensuring children do not bear the burden of financial hardship.
“We all know children shouldn’t have to pay the price of the cost-of-living crisis,” she says.
“This Double Donation Day is an opportunity for Victorians to come together and make twice the impact. Every dollar given helps turn hardship into hope and ensures vulnerable babies and children have the essentials they need to thrive.”
https://bit.ly/OurVillageDoubleDonationDay
Article by Olivia Zinzan, Our Village Head of Fundraising and Communications
