Nearly $53,000 has been raised for a local charity that provides school supplies to families in need.
In May this year, The Kids4Kids Foundation was chosen by local Officeworks staff to be supported by the company’s annual ‘Make a Difference’ appeal.
Last week it was announced stores across Loganholme, Browns Plains, Underwood, Lismore, West Burleigh, Nerang, Upper Mt Gravatt, Coffs Harbour, Capalaba, Underwood, Pimpama, Southport, and Robina raised $52,965 for the charity.
Kids4Kids CEO Tanya Glancy said the money would provide more than 600 children with backpacks filled with school supplies.
“We’re over the moon,” Ms Glancy said.
“We can comfortably give 600 children back to school packs and that doesn’t include our stationary donations we’ve received.
“It’s just an incredible gift from Officeworks in these current times – it’s incredible that they’ve been able to raise that amount of money.”
She said the funding was a “lifeline” amid challenges in meeting high demand in the local community.
“It’s going to help us immensely to reach more children and help support those families that are struggling,” Ms Glancy said.
“The current economic conditions and pressures has families going without life’s basics including access to resources to further their children’s education.”
These conditions also mean a demand for more volunteers.
“We need volunteers for our shop, for our packing days where we pack pencil cases and backpacks,” Ms Glancy said.
“We’ve got events we need help with, and other support that we need to give back to families,”
The foundation’s shop, known as the Kids4 Kids Hub, is located at the Bethania Community Centre.
Ms Glancy said children could come in and personally choose their school supplies.
The foundation was created in 2017 by Ms Glancy’s son, Samuel, who was nine years old at the time.
Since then, Kids4Kids has donated supplies to around 5000 families.
Its mission is to ensure “no child’s educational opportunities are limited by their socioeconomic status”.
The Officeworks appeal, now in its seventh year, last year raised more than $950,000 for 15 charities across Australia.
To volunteer, or to reach out to Kids4Kids, contact the team at help@kids4kidsfoundation.org.au.
