- As life has been giving us lemons, families are turning lemons in to lemonade to bring joy to others
- New community fundraiser engaging families to keep kids occupied and help out a worthy cause
- Launched on Monday 18 May 2020
- Families can sell ‘virtual lemonade’ through their online fundraising page – having fun and staying safe during social distancing restrictions
- Fundraising target of $30,000 so RIDBC can provide 600 Australian children with their first critical early intervention session, setting them on the path to the best start in life
- letsmakeastand.org.au
- #MakeAStand #RIDBC
Are you looking for a fun and creative new activity for your child? Today, we’re inviting Australian families to Make a Stand for kids in need by creating an old-fashioned lemonade stand at home and selling their virtual lemonade online.
Launched Monday 18 May 2020, this new campaign enables families to help one of Australia’s longest running charities, Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children (RIDBC). Bring moments of joy and connection to more children with hearing and vision loss by selling lemonade to raise vital funds – virtually of course.
It’s a chance to explore a new family activity in a world impacted by COVID-19, and show friends and family how fun it can be to give back to children with hearing and vision loss. It’s a great way to boost creativity, bust at-home boredom AND make a huge difference.
RIDBC aim to raise $30,000 by 30 June 2020, so that more Australian children with hearing or vision loss can access Early Intervention services. RIDBC ensures they have the vital support they need to reach developmental goals in their early years, build independence and achieve the best possible outcomes. It’s those special moments of joy and connection that can make all the difference for children with hearing or vision loss, such as the thrill of hearing their mum say ‘I love you’ for the first time, or the delight of finally being able to read a storybook by themselves using braille. Without early access to the services and support these children need, they can experience significant delays in their development, language and education, holding them back from reaching their full potential.
Why now? Why this?
Due to Coronavirus (COVID-19), everyone is experiencing a new level of isolation and upheaval in our everyday lives and it can feel like we’ve all been handed a big lemon.
People are tired of hearing negative news stories and are looking for optimism and more positive content. We are all living in a new normal, exploring different ways to entertain our kids, stay connected with friends and family, and to make a positive difference through supporting our community.
Make a Stand invites Australian families to find the positive and make the best of the COVID-19 situation, taking heed of the proverb ‘when life gives you lemons, make lemonade!’
We can all still share moments of joy and build a connection online. And we can do it while supporting children and families who can feel isolated by the impacts of hearing and vision loss.
The campaign officially launched last May 18, so register today and get creative!
So, how does it work?
- Registration is free, setting up your online fundraising page is easy peasy lemon squeezy!
- Craft your very own lemonade stand at home (make sure to capture it with pictures and video!)
- Spread the word by sharing the link to your online fundraising page to sell your virtual lemonade and raise vital funds to help children with hearing or vision loss
Who will it help?
Make a Stand supports children with hearing loss or vision impairment, providing access to critical Early Intervention services. Currently RIDBC supports over 1000 children across Australia through their Early Intervention program, tailored to the specific individual needs of each child. Natalija, who was born with profound hearing loss. Her mum, Sofi, told us that there were certain moments they thought would never happen, like reading books aloud, dancing to music and singing happy birthday together. Natalija was fitted with cochlear implants and soon after, Sofi captured the moment when Natalija heard one of her musical toys for the first time. You can see the wonder on little Natalija’s face, and you can just imagine how her parents felt in that moment, knowing all the things they thought would never happen might actually be possible. Today, along with many special moments shared with her family Natalija is thriving in her education and language development, including starting school – another precious family moment shared.
Over 9,000 Australian children and adults are supported by RIDBC services each year. Now, more than ever, RIDBC relies heavily on community support to continue to deliver these vital services and reach more kids who need their help – this is Australia’s chance to Make a Stand and Make the Difference.
For more information, visit www.letsmakeastand.org.au