Charity breaking down barriers of childhood poverty

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In the weeks leading up to Christmas, We Care Connect has been working in overdrive to deliver Christmas packages to more than 2000 kids on the Central Coast and in The Hunter. At the same time, they are providing 900 food packages to families in need across the region.

By Tracey Hawkins

With 10,000 children living below the poverty line on the Central Coast and at least 20,000 in the Hunter region, We Care Connect’s services are in high demand. Seven years ago, the charity was supporting just over 400 children. In 2023 that number has risen to around 4,500. The combination of inflation, the instability of renting, and ongoing public health issues such as Covid 19 have significantly impacted families.

Finding ways to alleviate this disparity and inequality is at the heart of We Care Connect. The not for profit, which began on the Central Coast in 2016, has a simple but significant mission – to reach more kids and to break the barrier of childhood poverty. “Childhood poverty is a major problem and is too big for any one individual or organisation,” said team member Helen Barker. “We started because it became very apparent that there was increasing poverty around us, and it needed a community response”.

“The families who use our services are often single-parent families with a child who has a disability,” said Helen. “Forty percent are Indigenous, and many are either homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Many are impacted by domestic violence, chronic illness, disability, or a combination of all these risk factors.”

As an organisation run by locals, We Care Connect has a unique capacity to respond to the changing needs of the community. They receive donated new and pre-loved parent and child items, and give them, free-of-cost, to families in need as part of a package of support provided by community and welfare case workers – diverting thousands of kilos of clothing from landfill.

Today’s operation is a far cry from its early days being run out of a church in Toukley as a group called ‘Share the Love’. Share the Love gave We Care Connect 6,000 items when they closed, this gave them nine months’ worth of stock. (In 2023 this has grown substantially to 6,000 items every two weeks).

Believing there was a need to increase the capacity of the group’s efforts, Derryck started We Care Connect in 2016. The organisation continued to be based in the church until moving to a larger space in Wyong a year later. To cater for growing needs in the Hunter region, a Newcastle distribution centre was opened in September 2022.

Working with organisations such as Central Coast Family Support Service, The Benevolent Society, Wesley Mission, St Vincent de Paul, Catholic Care as well as local neighbourhood centres, We Care Connect facilitates the space and the logistics. Community partners house eight donation drop off locations on the Central Coast and 12 in the Hunter region.

Once the donations are received by the Wyong and Thornton centres, they are sorted and stored in their respective categories. Each week a team of almost 140 volunteers sort through pre-loved items and bundle up packages specific to requests from a network of over 500 support staff including case workers, social workers, and teachers. Maintaining dignity for recipients is a key driver. “We put a lot of effort into the packages we give out to help the kids fit in with their peers and we know that makes a huge difference to their lives”, explained Helen. “We really listen to feedback from our case workers”.

Ninety nine percent volunteer-based, it takes thousands of hours to collect, sort, pack and distribute everything We Care Connect receives. This enthusiasm and dedication led to We Care Connect being awarded the Central Coast Region Volunteer Team of Year in 2018 and earlier this year.

“Our volunteers contribute in so many ways. Some people can manage an hour or two while others contribute whole days of work in any given week”, said Helen. “Volunteers are the strength of our program and are the most incredible demonstration of people wanting to make change in their community”.

How You Can Help:

A not for profit as busy as We Care Connect also needs funding to pay for services such as warehousing and electricity. While funding comes from a variety of sources, it is never enough to meet their increasing needs.

If you are a business, corporation, or a club, you can partner with We Care Connect or make them one of your supported charities.

Product Donations

A comprehensive list of the products We Care Connect requires can be found at: Items to Donate – We Care Connect

Items required include baby baths, baby wearable carriers, bassinets, bouncers, blankets, backpacks, bottles, bottle warmers and sterilizers, breast pumps, car restraints, change tables, cots and mattresses, dummies, highchairs, prams/strollers, nappy bags, changing mats, handbags, children’s books, and children’s clothing. As needed, freshly laundered linen and towels plus personal care items for adults. New or quality toys for birthday and Christmas packages.

We Care Connect provides clothing for children up to the age of 18 and always short of appropriate teen clothing. They are also always in need of clothing for boys ages 3 to 7. There is also a need for size 5 and 6 walker/toddler nappies.

In January a Back-to-School drive will supply 600 children with essential items such as stationery (USB sticks, scientific calculators), backpacks, lunch boxes, drink bottles and library bags.

Financial Donations

You can make a one-off donation, monthly, annual donations.

We Care Connect is registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC ) as a Deductible Gift Recipient charity.

If you are not sure of the amount to give, a donation of $25 will provide a packed nappy bag for of essentials for new mothers. $42 will provide clothing and essentials to support a child for six months. $150 can provide a safe car seat to get baby home safe from hospital.

Cheques can be sent to PO Box 4050, Wyongah 2259.

Bank Transfer: We Care Connect Limited. BSB: 633000 ACC: 171600976 (REF: First and Last name) Email if you would like a receipt.

Sponsors – people can partner with We Care Connect by hosting a fundraising or collective drive or offering financial support to the charity.

Volunteer:

Any time you can give will be greatly appreciated.

Volunteer with us – We Care Connect

Contact details:

For more information, please visit We Care Connect’s website.

www.wecareconnect.org.au

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