Welcome to 2016!
We reopened our HQ last week and we have certainly hit the ground running. Each day we are receiving 12 emails from caseworkers requesting assistance for local families in crisis who need our urgent help.
Our new year’s resolution is about reaching more families in need. We can only do this because of your ongoing support of Geelong Mums. Whether it be donating your gorgeous baby goods, volunteering your time, making a financial contribution, or spreading the word about Geelong Mums…you are the best part of Geelong Mums! Thank you.
Why we do what we do
In 2015 1,220 local families received emergency relief baby equipment from Geelong Mums. We are pleased to share two very powerful stories about how your support directly supported families in crisis.
Last week we helped a Dad who became a sole carer of his four young children, with very little notice. To be able adequately care for his children, he was forced to move to Geelong to live with his own parents - without this help he could not manage this challenging time with such young children. Due to transporting four children, Dad was not able to bring with him the essentials they needed. Living on a very low income, Geelong Mums was able to help Dad by providing a cot and mattress, clothing, linen, nappies and wipes…just 24 hours after to moving to Geelong.
Another powerful story occurred during the Christmas break. Thanks to the incredible amount of donations we had in stock in the HQ, we were able to help a number of families in emergency situations. One family with three young children lost everything in the Christmas Day bushfires and their caseworker was able to deliver a pram, car seat and clothing bags for each of the children directly to the them at their temporary accommodation.
Mums win international award!
During the break we received some amazing news.... St Kilda Mums, Geelong Mums and Eureka Mums will be named by US company Canvas, the ‘Ante Up’ Not for Profit of the Year. Canvas is the mobile ‘App’ we use to safety check our equipment, collect data about the families we support, and much more! It is a key tool in our sustainability and innovation focus.
This highly regarded international award is such an outstanding honour and presents lots of exciting opportunities for our organisation. St Kilda Mums CEO Jessie Macpherson and Geelong Mums General Manager Kate Kent are in Washington DC this week, as guests of Canvas, to receive the award! Read more about the award here and we will be sure to update you about Kate and Jessie’s trip!
Opening Hours
This page on our website is the best place to stay up to date with our opening times.
Please also be sure to check out what we can rehome here, as some items have been removed from our list for safety reasons.
Reflecting on our achievements
We are proud that our 2014/15 Annual Report that we share with St Kilda Mums and Eureka Mums, has been published. It gives great detail as to the impact we have across Victoria.
Special thanks to the team at St Kilda Mums for producing the report.
Read the full report here.
Rise & Shine Success!
Our 2015 Rise and Shine campaign saw more than 100 cots donated to Geelong Mums! After our launch at Sacred Heart’s ‘Inspire Geelong’ breakfast, we received so many financial donations from generous donors, some preloved cots, and we were also extremely grateful to receive a large grant from the Dawn Wade Trust.
Cots are one of our most requested items so it is great to have a large stock to start 2016. Thank you to everyone who supported this campaign.
Volunteer with us!
Start 2016 on a positive note and join the Geelong Mums Volunteer team!
We cater for individuals and groups (corporates, schools, community groups, families) and would love to welcome more people to our team. Please email Solee Robertson for more information.
Thanks for keeping up to date with all the latest Geelong Mums news. Be sure to follow us on facebook, instagram or twitter for all of our updates!
Take care and thanks again for your wonderful support,
The Geelong Mums Committee:
Clare, Chris, Kate B, Kate K and Bianca