Our 1st quarter Review for 2025

Another great start to the year with volunteer sessions being run approximately every 2 weeks. In January we got back to school items out to BayCISS & Port Phillip Community Centre who also received much needed packs for children in their care. BayCISS have also received non perishable food & shopping bags ongoing.

Emerge received a plethora of new items for the kitchens & laundries as well as children's activities for a safe house complex that underwent renovations.

The Avalon Centre received sleeping bags, backpacks & sleeping mats & VACCA had 2 large cars loaded to the brim with packs for children fleeing domestic violence as well as mens & women's emergency packs, shopping bags, clothing, toiletries and a large amount of other goodies.

Thanks to a generous grant fro the City of Glen Eria we were able to produce counselling packs for 150 youth & children under the care of Windana. Fiddles rugs were also sent to New Growth Group for their clients with disabilities.

Numerous local families in need were also helped & this year we had a much larger amount of requests over the holiday break. Thanks to a gift from Bayside City Council we were able to act fast & get urgent aid straight out.

Our aged care packs that went to 2 Vasey RSL not for profit homes before Xmas were very well received & we were sent a lovely letter & photo from one of the residents who has deep connection to Bayside for many decades.

We also got 100 school packs out to children under the care of Operation Stitches.

BayQuilters who have been a huge support delivered their 1st round of stunning quilts that we save up for this years aged care support. We also received approx 600 naked Barbies & have our wonderful community making hundreds of outfits for them so they can be dressed & sent to children in need.

CWA Bayside also delivered soft toys & drawstring bags & the Victorian Golf Club ladies continue to donate essentials we need ongoing.

Melbourne Bay Courier ran a story on our founder Deb Brook & Deb was also nominated for both citizen & volunteer of the year & we were nominated for event of the year at Bayside City Council's annual awards which was a fabulous night. We also attended Kingston City Councils Woman or the Year awards. It's a treat to be able to bring some of our main team along to these events.

In March we held our annual in person event which was a HUGE music bingo night at Black Rock Yacht Club. Tasman Talent & TimeWarp Events provided the entertainment & got the joint jumping! A massive night with 163 attendees!

Thank you to our amazing community for continuing to help us support others in need — the right way.