A VICTORIA Point-based charity has won a $5000 boost from the Commonwealth Bank to help provide free essentials to local families in need.
Operational since 2019, Redlands Kids Clothes Swap has provided children’s clothing from newborn to size 16 to families in need, thanks to dedicated volunteers and community donations.
The Commonwealth Bank Community Donations program allows customers to vote for their preferred organisations to receive a financial boost.
Treasurer Brian Jeffriess said winning the support of the Commonwealth Bank Community Donations program was a fantastic outcome for both the charity committee and the supporters who voted for them.
“We feel really proud and grateful at the outcome,” he said, adding that the $5000 prize would help cover challenging ongoing costs, including office supplies, cleaning products, volunteer and client refreshments, and insurance.
Alongside Brian, owner Narelle Jeffriess took over the service in May 2019 after their daughter Kristy, who was using the service, learned that the previous operator in Victoria Point could no longer continue.
“Kristy suggested we take it over as we had been travelling around Australia and had returned home,” Brian said.
“We did so, taking over approximately 15 storage boxes of children’s clothes only.”
What started with just 15 storage boxes has now blossomed into a thriving charity with around 150 containers.
With the help of 18 volunteers and seven committee members to sort, check, clean, and size donations, the charity ensures that all items provided to the community are clean, undamaged, and safe.
“Our volunteers including charity committee members are an important and integral part of our charity without whom we wouldn’t be able to function as successfully as we have,” Brian said.
The charity aims to provide free items to those in need, including DV victims, single parents, grandparents, foster families, and anyone looking to recycle instead of discarding.
However, Brian noted that despite receiving donations at the door, the charity faced challenges as it could only open 21 times a year due to council regulations.
“Ongoing running costs exceed what money is donated,” Brian said.
“Therefore, we will be looking to undertake some fund-raising in the future.”
For information, see The Redlands Qld Kids Clothes Swap on Facebook.
