AkzoNobel Gives Back to the Kids

Today, AkzoNobel invited Westcare to its Sunshine plant for a very special presentation.

Although we knew that they had some Christmas gifts in store for us, the effort that they had invested this year & how much they have achieved for so many of our kids in care was unprecedented.

AzkoNobel’s Darren Bartolo welcomed Westcare to the plant and addressed AzkoNobel workers of the company’s achievements in this year’s Christmas present drive.

Westcare General Manger Peter Mulholland and Publicity & Recruitment’s Gail Walton spoke to 200 of AzkoNobel’s employees on the importance of this gesture in the lives of these young kids.

Peter also underscored that Christmas for these children is not always a joyful and happy time. But in participating in a gift drive, children have the opportunity to wake up on Christmas day and experience waking up to a present- an Australian rite of passage some of these kids have never been part of.

The paint company has been a proud supporter of Westcare kids for many years and this year has generously donated to children from diverse age groups- from infants to adolescents in their late teens.

We are so thankful for their continued support and know that their donation will make our Westcare kids in Foster Care, Residential Care & Lead Tenant programs feel valued and thought of this Christmas.

Thanks to all of those at AkzoNobel for their time and their generosity.

Want more info about Westcare- what we do & how you can get involved? Click here!

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On the 18th of December Westcare was invited to Sunshine’s AkzoNobel.

Darren Bartolo kindly invited Westcare General Manager Peter Mulholland & Publicity & Recruitment’s Gail Walton to share some words with AkzoNobel’s employees.

 

Collecting presents from the drive

Only 1/3rd of all of the toys donated by AkzoNoble! 

2,500 food articles. 50 food hampers. 6 days until Christmas.

Seems like an epic feat to get it all done in time for the 24^th of December, right?

Thanks to our friends at Upside & Up Property, Westcare was able to pull 50 hampers together for struggling members of our community.

This year, Upside & Up Property joined up with Westcare by providing a variety of treats- from chocolates to biscuits, tinned food to soups. This is all done to help spread support & and a sense of inclusion for disadvantaged homes in the Victoria’s West.

Unlike most of us, 2014 has been a tough year for some Victorians.

People in the Western suburbs, children in Residential Care and Lead Tenant Programs, past young people involved in these programs and families doing it hard will be receiving these hampers.

Christmas food baskets have been a tradition at Westcare. For TSAY Program Manager, Ralph Salera, food baskets are a great way to reach to people who need it.

‘They’re for the people who really deserve it.’

Donations from Food Bank and other kind members of our community help us to reach out at Christmas time to those in need.

We thank everyone for their support- the baskets are brimming with canned goods and treats to share on Christmas day & we know it will be going a long way.

Want more info about Westcare, what we do & how to get involved? Click here!

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The final product: a hamper brimming with over 50 food items will be going home to a family or person in need this Christmas

The production line- only 19 of the 50 hampers made up!

Another generous Donation!

We are so grateful for another kind (and extremely generous!) donation from Rebecca D’Angelo.

Rebecca & her friends donated an assortment of toys for all of Westcare’s younger kids to enjoy this Christmas.

Children that are a part of Westcare’s Foster Care and Residential Care will be delighted with these gifts as they battle a Christmas away from their families this year.

We thank Rebecca & those who helped pool toys together- another example of fabulous people in our community helping out our young Victorians in need.

Migani Fitness Christmas Donation

Westcare is very grateful for the support of Adrian Migani & his generous gift donation to disadvantaged kids this Christmas.

With the help of his clients at Migani Fitness, an assortment of fabulous toys were donated- from a rocking horse to tennis gear, Monopoly to an inflatable raft boat.

These presents will be gladly received by more than 35 kids from Victoria’s Western suburbs. These children will be spending Christmas in Foster Care, Residential Care & Lead Tenant placements.

We thank Adrian for supporting Westcare and helping put a smile on the faces of young kids who won’t be home to celebrate Christmas with their families this year.

Christmas comes early at Orbital!

On the 3rd of December, Westcare staff gathered at Orbital Residential Care to celebrate Christmas and reflect upon another hard year’s work.

In true Westcare style, staff gathered over food- sharing stories and laughter.

The Orbital Residential Unit was selected in 2008 to be Westcare’s first unit to implement the therapeutic model.

Orbital provides accommodation and daily support to young people typically aged between 12-17 years who have experienced trauma in their childhood. Each child has a tailored therapeutic plan which monitors, assesses and provides support to each individual.

The Main Road Residential Unit has recently funded to provide the therapeutic model.

We thank all of those at Orbital for their dedication and efforts throughout the year (plus the BBQ!)

Lahn’s Making A List… And Checking it Twice

Each November, Lahn sorts through a list of 150 kids names from across Victoria’s Western suburbs.

This list is made for Christmas presents- containing the details each young person’s name, age and gender.

But the kids on this list aren’t like most.

They’re the children from The Salvation Army’s Westcare. They’re the kids who will be spending this Christmas in foster care.

History

Westcare is an organisation established to connect displaced young people who cannot live with their families with foster carers or alternate living arrangements such as residential care.

Each year, Lahn receives a list from senior manager, Chris Jones, of all the children who won’t be spending Christmas with their family.

While doing onsite massages at Westcare, Lahn was exposed to youth disadvantage and felt an urgency to contribute to helping young people in need.

“Whilst I was there I saw all the hard work that they were doing.” She also became conscious of “how disadvantaged some of the kids can be.”

Lahn wasn’t stopped by the fact that she wasn’t in a position to foster a child. So she called upon other ways to help these young people in need.

 “I asked them what I could do.”

It was that one simple question that sprung this project to life.

How the Drive Works

Lahn sorts through her list and creates a wall, displaying cards with the kids’ names, ages and gender at her workplace Aware Health in Newport. She then encourages people to choose a card from the wall and select a gift for the child in need.

Kids can put in a request for what they would like for Christmas, from home decorations, books and games to educational toys.

Requests are also put in by carers, especially for children with autism and special needs.

‘I try and fill every gift card… I don’t like the idea of kids missing out.’

She notes that often adolescents in need are often left last, where “all of the younger kids go first,” when tags are taken from the wall.

Lahn asks that people should also think of the teenagers who are doing it tough and are grateful for the presents donated at Christmas time.

Sharing the Christmas Spirit

Lahn concedes that in part, the drive inspires to keep her going because of the satisfaction it brings. “It makes me feel good.”

She calls on others do to the same and participate in the drive.

“It’s no skin off our back to do something for someone else” she explained. “It’s a nice way to help out.”

For those interested in getting involved at Westcare, she offers: “if you can’t foster a kid you can do this little thing.”

“It’s not expensive, it lets kids know there’s someone out there who cares for them… a stranger.”

In turn she hopes this will motivate kids to gain “confidence” and know that one day they’ll have the courage to “pass it forward and help the out.”

The drive is not only made to help the young people in foster care, but to bolster a greater consciousness for her clients and members of society to ‘look after kids in the community.’

For Lahn personally, Christmas is about giving to others and “trying to help other people without expectation.”

Whilst for her it is also a time for her family and friends, it’s a cause for both reflection and action in building upon a sense of community.

And most importantly:

“The kids shouldn’t miss out.”

Lahn advertises her drive through her website, Facebook, Newport traders.

For more information about Westcare and its services, click here