written by Lauren Johnson Chuditch WA Office Manager
On the run-up to Christmas this year, my colleague Kate emailed everyone in the team asking if they would like to join her in donating items for the local Woman’s Refuges and homeless. A cause in which she regularly donates to and holds close to her heart.
I went home that evening and started to sort through my wardrobes, asking myself “Do I really need this?” or “Does this even fit me?” to a lot of items. I realized that over time I have bought so many clothes that I have maybe worn once or some not at all and thought to myself what a waste! I filled a huge box within an hour of sorting through clothing, it was so easy! I also went off to Coles and purchased the tinned food items to create two ‘Christmas Hampers’ for the homeless and it only added up to around $20.00, to me that’s the price of two glasses of wine at a fancy city bar (which I wouldn’t think twice about buying).
The next day I was talking with my gym manager Tanya, at Freo Fitness and she offered to put a sign up for donations there for me, the very next day I had another few boxes worth of donations. Not just clothing, but essentials and gift items like photo frames, jewellery, books, children’s toys, toiletries and sanitary items. Items that I would just go into a shop and purchase for myself without a second thought as to the cost or whether it was essential or not for me to have it.
I also met an inspiring young girl named Indi, who has been creating care packs with her friends, for the woman’s refuges and homeless for some time now. She started it because she saw a homeless person on the streets and was upset by it, she wanted to make a difference.
Our wonderful team of male carpenters, brought in clothing donations from themselves, partners, family and friends. Along with these, they brought in food and sanitary donations which they personally purchased specifically for the cause.
The Chuditch Group kindly donated funds for the purchase of additional sanitary and food items for the collection.
Within two weeks of Kate sending out her email, she had an overwhelming response and had already filled 13 huge ‘tea chest’ size boxes of donations, plus additional food boxes and Christmas Hampers.
The final box count after a month of collecting was:
12 x Female Clothing
2 x Male Clothing
9 x Kids Clothing & Toys
3 x Baby
1x Kids & Woman’s Gifts
3x Woman’s Gifts
4 x Homeware Items (bedding, towels, pillows etc)
5 x Sanitary & Toiletries Items
10 x Food Items
9 x Christmas Hamper’s
So, what did I personally learn from Kate’s Christmas donation drive…
Each day we take the life we have for granted. We complain about small issues, like the weather, transport being late, flights to Bali going up a few dollars. We forget just how lucky we are to have; a roof over our head, food on our table, clothes on our backs, family and friends by our side or a job to get up for! There are a lot of people out there who don’t have these things in life and have little, to no support in trying to turn things around.
I feel extremely lucky to work with a woman like Kate, who always thinks of others, whether they are less fortunate or going through a rough time. She always tries to do what she can to help them.
So, the next time you go to purchase your $5.00 coffee, ask yourself “Do I really need this” and instead consider donating the money to a worthy cause. When you purchase a new item of clothing, sort through those items you don’t wear anymore and drop them down to the local homeless or refuge collection centre.
“Sometimes it takes only one act of kindness and caring to change a person’s life”
Wishing you all a safe Christmas and fulfilling New Year
Below are links for more information on how you could help visit:
Homeless
https://homelessconnect.volunteeringwa.org.au
http://www.entrypointperth.com.au
Woman’s Refuges
https://www.sharethedignity.com.au/womens-shelters-perth/
http://www.womenscouncil.com.au/womens-refuges.html
