Nurturing Hope

Compassion For Kids in Care

Your small donation at the Rotary BBQ will help lift a spirit and light up a child’s world.

Taken

On a warm Christmas Eve in 2013, Detective Sergeant John Giles of the Australian Federal Police, stood in a stuffy room, his heart heavy as he watched three children huddled together, their possessions fitting into a single plastic bag.

The summer heat was oppressive in the midst of a long, warm spell, but the weight of the moment felt even heavier. The children had just been removed from an unsafe home, their world turned upside down in an instant. As the children were led away to emergency care, a simple question haunted him: “What will these kids open on Christmas morning?”

That December night changed everything. It sparked an idea that would grow into the Kids in Care program, a beacon of hope for children caught in the storms of crisis and neglect across the Australian Capital Territory and beyond.

Today, that flame burns brighter than ever. But we need your help to keep it alive.

Why Kids In Care Is Important

Imagine being a young child, suddenly taken from everything you know – your bed, your toys, even your toothbrush – in the middle of the night.

This is the reality for many children entering emergency care.

Sometimes, it’s the little things that we take for granted that can make a big difference to the comfort of a child in crisis. And that is where Kids in Care come in.

Kids In Care Helps On Day One

Thanks to Kids in Care, these children don’t arrive in care empty-handed. They receive what we call a ‘Go Bag’ – a backpack that means so much more than its contents.

‘Go Bags’

Inside each Go Bag is a carefully curated collection of essentials: clean clothes, hygiene items, and a few small toys.

But what these bags really contain is dignity. Hope. A message that says, “You matter. Someone cares.”

a woman standing next to a van full of bags

You’re participaton helps make a difference.

The Rotary Club of Jerrabomberra BBQ isn’t just serving up hamburgers and sausage sandwiches – it’s serving up change, one meal at a time.

Donations accepted

The BBQ Pool Party supports The Rotary Vulnerable Youth Project and Kids in Care.

You’ll find the Rotary BBQ at the Pool Party. Your contribution, no matter the size, will make a difference.

Case History

Sarah, a local caseworker, recently shared a story about a 10-year-old girl.

When Emily* received her Go Bag, her eyes lit up at the sight of her very own hairbrush and the small stuffed animal tucked inside. Clutching the bag to her chest she asked, “It’s mine? Really mine?”.

For a child who had never owned anything new, this simple backpack represented a world of possibility.

When you approach the Rotary BBQ, remember Emily and the hundreds of children like her.

Remember that your contribution – whether it’s $2 or $20 or $200 – isn’t just buying food. It’s buying hope. It’s ensuring that when another child is faced with their darkest night, they won’t face it alone and empty-handed.

*(Name changed)

Christmas Presents For Kids in Care

As Christmas approaches, our hearts again reach out to put a smile on the faces of children in care.

For many children in care, Christmas can be a time of sadness rather than joy, as they often face the reality of having no presents to unwrap on Christmas morning. This heartbreaking situation affects thousands of young people in the care system who might otherwise go without any gifts during the festive season.

Every year, Kids in Care works to put joy into the hearts of children by collecting donations to purchase toys, bikes, and other presents throughout the year.

As Christmas approaches, dedicated volunteers come together at special gift-wrapping events to carefully prepare each present, ensuring that every child in care receives a beautifully wrapped gift to open on Christmas Day.

Thank you

Your generosity at the BBQ will directly fund more Go Bags and Christmas gifts, for children in care.

Since 2013, the Canberra community has helped hundreds of children through Kids in Care, but the need never ends. Every week, more children enter the system, each one deserving of the dignity and comfort that a Go Bag provides.