Big Group Hug

We were delighted to welcome Wyndham Cr Susan McIntyre - Wyndham City to our Tarneit hub last week. Thank you for supporting our essential work in helping children facing hardship in our community 💙

We are so grateful to our lovely friends at the Tobin Brothers Funerals for their generous donation. Located just 1km down Settlement Road in Thomastown, their support as our neighbours means a lot to us. With this contribution, we will be able to purchase essential toiletries for children and families in need. Thank you for your kindness and generosity 💙

It's that time of year again!

With Book Week just around the corner, we want to know what your favorite kids' book is! Let us know in the comments and share your recommendations. This year's theme is "Reading is Magic," and that's what we love best about books—they can transport you to another world!

Reading is especially powerful for disadvantaged children, helping break the cycle of poverty and improve their futures. It enhances literacy and language skills, which are crucial for academic success and better job opportunities. Reading also stimulates cognitive development, critical thinking, and creativity, helping children understand and navigate the world around them. Additionally, it offers an escape from difficult circumstances, providing comfort and a sense of normalcy. Stories can inspire hope, resilience, and the belief that challenges can be overcome.

If you're looking for the perfect dress up for your child's book week event, be sure to take a look at our online store, Beyond the Hug! 100% of sales go to supporting kids in need. Shop now > https://www.ebay.com.au/str/beyondthehug

Today is International Self Care Day, the perfect opportunity to highlight the importance of self-care as a vital foundation of health. Unfortunately, for many in our community, even basic self-care remains a luxury. Period poverty remains a major issue, leading some of our recipients to use unsuitable makeshift alternatives like toilet paper and socks, or extend the use of pads and tampons due to insufficient access and financial insecurity.

We urgently need hygiene products to address period poverty and ensure everyone can practice self-care. Can you help? We are in desperate need of pads, tampons, liners, maternity pads, and breast pads that are unused/ brand new, or open packets if the seal hasn't been broken.

Thank you for anything you can do to help, whether it is donating these items or sharing this post to help us spread the word 💙

We want to share a big thank you to our good friends at the Emergency Relief Team Inc. for their HUGE donation of single bed quilts and waterproof mattress covers!

We are still in need of single flat and fitted sheets, can you help providing these? These are urgently needed, and along with these new quilts will ensure cosy, comfy, and warm rest for vulnerable children in our community. They can be used but must be in excellent condition.

A big thank you to Vicinity Northland Shopping Centre! It was wonderful to have their team visit our Thomastown HQ recently. We're incredibly grateful for their grant, which will help our hardware team rescue more items and increase our environmental impact by covering essentials like tyre replacements for prams and safety harnesses. This means the world to us 💙

This National Pyjama Day, you can gift a warm and restful sleep to a child in hardship. Your financial donations will allow us to purchase new pyjamas, ensuring every child experiences the comfort they deserve. Alternatively, you might like to buy a new pair of pyjamas or donate preloved ones in great condition.

Help a child here > https://ow.ly/s52U50SCV1A

This absolute superstar is Alys, who works full time as a teachers aid and has a passion for supporting and working with vulnerable children. Alys was introduced to Big Group Hug three years ago through her daughter and has been a part of our awesome remote volunteer team ever since! She is always scrolling Facebook, searching for kids items to pick up, and graciously offers her home as a local drop off point.

We love our volunteers, and we would love to have you join us! There are lots of positions available suitable for everyone, browse the list of roles available here > https://www.volunteer.com.au/volunteering-organisations/12015/big-group-hug

Thank you and happy 18th birthday to our donor, Thulshi! To celebrate, she asked her guests to donate brand new toys, and our toy team is incredibly grateful. Your generosity will bring countless smiles to children who might otherwise go without. Thulshi, you're truly amazing!

We urgently need baby change mats and toiletries, particularly roll on deodorant. Our supplies are so low that we are struggling to fill requests for families who urgently need these items. With Amazon Prime Day this week, it's a great opportunity to grab some bargains. If you can, please consider adding a few extra items for kids in need to your cart or your shopping trolley. We would be so grateful!

*All toiletries have to be brand new however change mats can be second hand in good clean condition.

We were delighted to see Erica, the Community Liaison Officer at Koomail Tardy Community Centre, who visited our Hub last week. At Big Group Hug, we believe in the power of community and the difference we can make when we join forces.

Supporting our local families is at the heart of what we do, and partnerships like these allow us to reach even more children and families who need a helping hand. Whether it's donating essential items or volunteering your time, every bit of support helps us provide comfort and hope.

Are you involved with a community group or organisation looking to make a difference? We’d love to connect and explore how we can work together to support our local families. Reach out to us and help us create a brighter tomorrow for our neighbours facing hardship 💙

We are so thankful to Corrections Victoria Head Office for their invaluable support and partnership. Their program, which equips women with skills such as sewing and knitting, not only empowers these women but also provides children in need with these warm, handmade blankets. This initiative highlights the profound impact of skill-building and education in our community. We believe it exemplifies goodness in every way, and we are truly grateful for this partnership.

We are so grateful for the generous donation of linen we received from Streetsmart Sheridan! Your contribution will bring warmth, comfort, and a feeling of security to many children who are in need. For kids without proper bedding or whose linens are worn and threadbare, this donation means they can now sleep in a cozy, clean bed. A good night’s sleep is crucial for their well-being and growth, and these items will ensure these children can rest easier and wake up ready to face the day with confidence and hope 💙

Are you taking part in the Run Melbourne marathon on 21 July? Why not take it to the next level and use the opportunity to raise much-needed funds for Big Group Hug! Your support will help us continue to aid children in need and expand our reach to support even more families. A big thank you to our partners at FMD Financial, who have already raised $2,135!
There's still time to sign up, register today > https://runmelbourne24.grassrootz.com/biggrouphug

This Victorian Naidoc Week, we’re not just celebrating our nation’s rich tapestry of cultures—we’re embracing an opportunity to listen, learn, and take pride in the incredible diversity that makes our community vibrant and unique. It’s an opportunity to honour the past, celebrate the present, and look forward to a bright future for all Australians.

National NAIDOC Week is a chance to instil in our children a deep respect and appreciation for the cultures and histories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. By embracing the theme "Keep the Fire Burning: Blak, Loud, and Proud," we can create meaningful learning experiences that honour and celebrate our rich heritage.

Big Group Hug's first Reconciliation Action Plan, Reflect, has been conditionally endorsed by Reconciliation Australia and will be ready to share and implement soon. Join us in keeping the fire of understanding and respect burning bright in our hearts 💙

A big thank you to the incredible students from Hume Anglican Grammar, known as The Community Crusaders, for your generous donation of winter warmers at our Airport West hub! Your collection filled our tubs, helping us provide essential warmth and comfort to children in need during these cold months.

We are especially grateful for the ongoing support from some of the students who also volunteer their time with us at our Thomastown warehouse. What an amazing group of kids!

We are thrilled to announce that we have been named finalists in the 2024 Wyndham City Council Business Awards! This prestigious recognition highlights our dedication to supporting vulnerable children in our community. Thank you to our volunteers and our beautiful family of supporters for helping us in our journey

Right now in our community, babies and children are going without life's most essential items. Parents are often faced with the heartbreaking choice between purchasing basic toiletries or paying for groceries and rent. This lack of access to hygiene products not only affects their health but also undermines their dignity, confidence, and comfort.

We urgently need your support to provide necessities like roll-on deodorant, nappy cream, shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste and toothbrushes, and body wash to children and families who are struggling. We are critically low on these essential items, and every bit of help makes a difference. Could you add a few extra toiletries to your next shopping trip, or share this post with your friends and family? We need all the help we can get right now. Anything you can do to help is so so much appreciated 💙 We do ask that these items please be donated brand new and unopened.

We want to say the biggest thank you to all our supporters who helped us during our recent nappy shortage! We are so grateful to have such a supportive and compassionate community who always step up when we need them most.

We also want to thank our best buds from The Nappy Collective, who recently dropped in this absolutely MASSIVE van full of nappies! This just means the world to us.

Our hearts are full. For now, we can ensure that the tiniest ones in our neighbourhood won't go without these basic essentials. And it's all thanks to you 💙

We are celebrating Social Media Day with a spotlight on the king 👑

Not just famous around our warehouse, Jeremy is also a social media icon! Jeremy has been volunteering with us for more than 5 years, recently becoming a member of our 5+ years club. He loves to clean and organise, never failing to get into mischief or make us laugh. Where would we be without him.

We love our volunteers, and we would love to have you join us! There are lots of positions available suitable for everyone, browse the list of roles available here > https://www.volunteer.com.au/volunteering-organisations/12015/big-group-hug

Your support can significantly impact a child's development, enhancing sensory and early language skills in younger children and boosting literacy, critical thinking, empathy, and cognitive abilities in older ones. Plus, donating before 30 June can increase your tax deductions!

Every dollar helps. Donate now > https://bit.ly/BGHTax_Appeal24

Through collaboration with GCG, Big Group Hug sought to develop a long term corporate partnership strategy in order to secure resources and funding and long term corporate partnerships.

Big Group Hug has worked for over 9 months with GCG - University of Melbourne and six of the best and the brightest Monash University students to solve a challenging problem, that if solved will make a long lasting meaningful impact on the lives of thousands of children.

Today the work was handed to our CEO, Bernadene Voss. "We are struggling to expand our reach due and operations due to a lack of reliable and continuous funding, this is an exciting milestone and we are very appreciative of this body of work"

Your support can help kids stay active, promote physical fitness, enhance coordination, and stimulate healthy growth. Plus, donating before 30 June can maximise your tax deductions!

Every dollar helps. Donate now > https://bit.ly/BGHTax_Appeal24

You can bring joy and comfort to a child, and by donating before 30 June you can boost your tax deductions!

Every dollar helps. Donate now > https://bit.ly/BGHTax_Appeal24

Lydia, a single mother, tragically passed away, leaving her three children in the care of her parents, Nick and Irene. The youngest, baby Ana, is just two months old, and her grandparents are finding it difficult to cope with their new responsibilities. They urgently need a bottle warmer, steriliser, vaporiser, and baby monitor to help them manage their increased caregiving duties.

We hear many similar stories from local families, and we are critically short on these essential electrical items that provide convenience and alleviate stress for carers like Nick and Irene. If you can assist with donations of these items, we just ask that they are either new or preloved in good working condition, with all the parts and clean.

If you don't have these items to donate but would like to help, please consider making a donation > donate.biggrouphug.org

Your support can keep a child warm during the freezing cold winter months, and by donating before 30 June you can boost your tax deductions!

Every dollar helps. Donate now > https://bit.ly/BGHTax_Appeal24

Our fabulous volunteer Adelaide is one of our star material aid drivers! Taking a break from her busy studies, Adelaide wanted to give back and support those in her community that needed it most. We always look forward to having her, and know that when Adelaide is on the road our clients are always being met with a bright smile!

We love our volunteers, and we would love to have you join us! There are lots of positions available suitable for everyone, browse the list of roles available here > https://www.volunteer.com.au/volunteering-organisations/12015/big-group-hug

Your support can brighten a child's tomorrow, and by donating before 30 June you can boost your tax deductions!

Every dollar helps. Donate now > https://bit.ly/BGHTax_Appeal24