ABOUT US
Supporting families in need.
Sunshine Bendigo is a community-based, volunteer group that provides practical support to families experiencing challenging times in the Central Victoria region.
The organisation was established in 2016 due to the growing need in the area for families requiring a helping hand to provide for their families.
As a registered charity with a DGR status, Sunshine Bendigo collects, sorts, and redistributes essential new and pre-loved baby goods and nursery equipment to families in need.
All items re-homed are checked to meet current Australian Safety Standards and are in good working condition.
Glenda Serpell - Founder & Director Sunshine Bendigo Inc.
From our Founder and Director.
A new financial year brings with it an opportunity to reflect on the profound impact our Sunshine community has made over the past 12 months.
I am once again beyond proud of what our united collective of volunteers, sponsors and supporters who are committed to impacting the lives of babies and children facing poverty or disadvantage have achieved.
The past few years have been challenging for us all. The cost of living crisis has affected both the demand on our services whilst simultaneously affecting our supporter community.
We have seen a huge increase in demand and our incredible team of volunteers have worked tirelessly to meet this demand and ensure that babies and children in the Bendigo region have essential items to grow and thrive.
In 2023 we were faced with the huge challenge of finding a new premises to operate from and then the massive task of relocation. It has proven to be a great success all round. With greater profile, function and accessibility.
We were also confronted with the needs north of Bendigo during the devastation from horrific flooding. Our team stepped in to support many families with needs because of this disaster. This opened up a fantastic opportunity to support families in the North Central region of Victoria on an ongoing basis. This included our potential for weekly deliveries to service agencies in that region, which has been extremely well received.
As we approach our 8th birthday it is with great pride and optimism that I can announce that as of July 1, 2024 we have changed the lives of 7,484 children’s lives for better, and given these children - and their families - a chance to have a safe and healthy start to life.
The ongoing generosity of our community is critical to our ongoing operations and we are grateful for the continued support to create positive change for families in need.
As we look forward, our focus is to build sustainable funding and a stronger volunteer and supporter base to continue to impact our community.
With love and gratitude.
Glenda
