Community News

Acts of Kindness

By BEV JORDAN
This Christmas CHRG (Castle Hill RSL Group) is urging visitors and guests to consider random Acts of Kindness to someone they don’t know and drop a gift into one of the special wishing wells.

To start the ball rolling CHRG has partnered with Event Cinemas to provide Foster Care Angels Incorporated with $13,750-worth of “Movie Experience” vouchers to distribute to foster children and families across the Hills, Hawkesbury and Parramatta local council areas.

Andy Abey, CHRG Head of Corporate Affairs said: “Our Christmas donation will see 150 vulnerable families across our three local council areas receive tickets to a movie of their choice, along with candy bar vouchers to complete the experience”

There are Acts of Kindness Wishing Wells at Castle Hill RSL, Club Parramatta and Lynwood Golf and Country Club for people to leave a donation of their own.

“We are collecting new and packaged children’s toys, school supplies, and vouchers for fun family experiences. Think vouchers for Bowling, Laser Tag, Rock Climbing, the Zoo, or even a voucher to a local restaurant or cafe. Any family-friendly activity would be an amazing gift to share,” she said.

The wishing wells will be at the venues until mid January to accept donations after the Christmas rush has eased.

“It’s important we all support local families doing it tough, not only during Christmas but into the New Year and beyond, said Andy.

All vouchers and gifts received will be distributed to Foster Care Angels Incorporated as well as CHRG’s the Domestic Violence Prevention Partners, The Sanctuary_ The Hills Women’s Shelter, Lisa Harnum Foundation and Youth Rezolutions.

Wendy Bennett from Foster Care Angels said they were very grateful for the generous donation. “A lot of foster families have been struggling during the lockdown,” she said. “They tend to be the larger families with their biological children as well as foster children. These vouchers will allow them to take their children out for a treat … something they can’t normally afford.”

Foster Care Angels was established 10 years ago to help children in foster care and has a data-base of just over 200 families which it has helped over the years through various programs it runs.

“We look for gaps and try to fill gaps,” said Wendy. “At the moment we are supporting children transitioning to adulthood. For a lot of foster kids when they reach 18 they are classed as an adult and foster care funding stops.

The statistical outcomes are “really quite poor” for foster children leaving the system. 35% are homeless, 65% don’t finish school and 50% of males are in juvenile justice. They are at such a big disadvantage. Foster Care Angels has a pilot program called, The Launch Pad for foster children over 18. We support them until their 25th birthday with long-term subsidised rental accommodation and life skill support.”

So far six young women have been supported including one who is now at university studying social work. Foster Care Angels also has an online app for good mental health aimed at over 13s. For more details visit the website fostercareangels.org.au

Acts Of Kindness

 

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