As we near closer to Christmas, most families are completing their shopping, planning their Christmas lunch menu and wrapping gifts for their loved ones. However, for some families, this is a time of survival, struggle and hardship.

Often, these families have experienced immense trauma, illnesses or significant disability which has placed strain on their ability to provide the extra financial commitment that occurs during the Christmas period, and so Growing Early Minds created and launched a Christmas Hamper Drive initiative to help our local and most vulnerable families.

Growing Early Minds is a community based, not-for-profit organisation located in Blacktown, and is passionate about providing quality supported playgroups, parenting programs, early intervention and disability support services to children aged 0-16 years and their families.

This is the second year running the Christmas Hamper Drive, reaching out to friends, parishes, schools, businesses and community organisations for donations. Donations were asked to be in the form of clothing, non-perishable food items, unopened/new toys (for children aged 2-14 years). The goal was to gather enough donations to put together and deliver 25 hampers before Christmas.

Rebecca Lange, Business Support Officer at Growing Early Minds said:

“We have been absolutely overwhelmed with the level of support and generosity from everyone. So much so, we even inspired other companies to created their own micro-initiatives to support our hamper drive. For example, Enerpac Regents Park created ‘Give Where You Live’. We’re so incredibly appreciative of organisations such as Access Industries, Chipmunks, Inflatable World, Wet’n’Wild, Pullman Sydney Hyde Park, Woolworths at Blacktown and Seven Hills, Rashays, Hillsong and so many more that donated to help not only reach but exceed our goal – creating 35 hampers!”

Sophia Goodwin, Occupational Therapist and Practice Lead at Growing Early Minds shared:

“This week has been the most heart-warming week, we got to witness relief in the eyes of our parents and pure joy on the faces of the children when they got to unwrap their presents. It’s such been such an emotional, happy, moving experience and that really is the feeling of Christmas.”