Photo: Supplied.
BY ASHLEIGH HOWARTH
Dedicated volunteers from Care Kits for Kids Qld Inc will be able to pack more backpacks with essential items for disadvantaged children following an upgrade to their sheds in Camp Hill.
After two years of planning and construction, the not-for-profit organisation celebrated the completion of the project with an official opening event on August 19. Care Kits for Kids Qld Inc co-founder Stephanie Hinrichs said the upgrade would make a significant difference to the number of children it could support and its helpers.
“I think the largest number of Care Kits we have completed in one year is around 4,700, so this upgrade means we can now increase that number to 5000,” Stephanie said.
“Our new sewing room houses around 20 machines, a huge cutting table and more, and our crafters, sorters and packers all have ample space for their many activities.
“There’s also a dedicated donations reception room, a completed dispatch storage room for the completed care kits, plus an increase in safe space allowing people with mobility aids to volunteer or access the site more easily.”
The revamp has been a true community effort with funding from the Brisbane City Council Lord Mayor’s Better Suburbs Community Facility Fund, Queensland Gambling Community Benefit Fund, Easts Leagues Club and Civic Solutions, alongside numerous fundraising events and donations from businesses, organisations, clubs and individuals.
A number of businesses and tradies also rallied behind the project by giving either their time or in-kind donations including steel framing, vinyl, tiles, office furniture and tables.
Since 2018, the organisation has provided Care Kits to nearly 20,000 children who are experiencing out-of-home care, domestic and family violence, extreme poverty, homelessness or other crises.
Each backpack contains age-appropriate new or handcrafted clothing, toiletries, stationery, activities, toys, books and a quilt or wrap, and are distributed through Queensland Child Safety, Queensland Police Child Protection, foster and kinship care services, domestic and family violence services, hospitals and schools.
Currently, one of their most urgent requests is for teenage and adult-sized backpacks, particularly sturdy bags with laptop compartments.
If you would like to help, a full list of items needed for each packing cycle can be found at www.carekitsforkidsqld.org.au.
