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Backpacks 4 Aussie Kids Inc. is a non profit filling backpacks and nappy bags with essential and personal items for kids going into foster and kinship care in Australia.
To date, we have packed and delivered over 6000 backpacks to babies, children, and youth in the foster care system.
Hi! My name is Despina and I am the Founder and President of Backpacks 4 Aussie Kids Inc.(I am also a foster carer with my husband, an Early Childhood Teacher, 'crazy' cat lady and sci fi geek). When I started this project in May of 2009, my goal was to pack just 100 backpacks for kids in my local area. To my surprise, the idea recieved overwhelming support and I have had to adjust the goal of the number of bags packed from 100 to 500 to 1000, then to 5000! Now we have reached that goal! Thanks to the help from supporters like you.
New goal? However many it takes . . .
Specifically, this Project supports Aussie Kids going into, or already in the Foster Care system. I have always felt these kids, (from birth to 18 years), are under representated in the Australian charity scene. We are always encouraged to support, through sponsorship, children in other parts of the world, but what about our kids? They seem to get forgotton.
The support from the community, online communities and from people all over Australia keeps us going with much needed finacial and physical donations.
It takes about $10,000 a year to run this Project effectively. ALL DONATIONS go directly into the backpacks and shipping costs.
Why not use second hand backpacks? Because they often have names of the previous owners on them and really, the kids they are going to don't need such a blatant reminder they are getting cast offs.
Regular backpacks and stationery items help the kids to continue to fit in at school. As a teacher myself, I have seen kids come to school one day with their regular bags and school uniform (even if it's grotty), and the next day they turn up with a plastic bag, no pencils or books, no shoes and clothes that a two sizes too big for them. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to work out that the child has been placed in care.
So stationery - this must be brand new for the reasons mentioned above. Again, the January sales are great, but we have run out of EVERYTHING. It's expensive to post heavy items like notebooks and exercise books, folders etc, so we do need funds so I can purchase locally or find an online wholesaler to deliver.
Other items like toiletries, which are quite often donated, simply must be new and unused. You wouldn't believe it, but I was once sent several bottles of shampoo and conditioner... all half empty. I was speechless!
The toiletries need to be travel size like you would get in a hotel. When we have enough funds I can source these from wholesalers, but the minimum purchase is usually more that we can store comfortably. My husband apparently thinks our home is for living in and not a storage complex, tut-tut!
Underwear needs to be new as well, for obvioius reasons, as do nappies, wipes and baby wash etc.
Things that can be donated are small soft toys in good condition, pre loved clothing in good condition, and new clothing.
Other items you can donate are polar fleece blankies (just bunny rug size), clothing socks, undies, kids colouring activity packs, homemade items like soap, bracelets, taggies, blankies, hand sewn toiletry bags, toothpaste, toothbrushes... pretty much everything except shoes. We don't take shoes, even new ones because it's way to hard to guess a correct shoe size to include in a bag.
There is little we can give in way of Perks but I have added a few small things.
Please click the link below to view our website and find out more about what we do and how you can help. I can only hope you find this a worthy enough cause to support. (Surely if that bloke in America can get $34,000 on crowdfunding to make potato salad, we can get close to our goal).
Thank you in advance! . . .
It takes a village to raise a child
http://www.backpacks4aussiekids.com.au
Perks
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What can I say? You are generous, amazing and probably really good looking too! You will recieve a Certificate of Appreciation 2 wristbands and an autographed picture of my cat*. Items will be posted within 2 weeks of claim. (*The cat in the picture is for display purposes only and you may receive a picture of a completely different cat).
- 1 claimed
Such a generous soul. Thank you so much. With your Hollywood good looks and your Celebrity-like generosity, you have made an enormous contribution to our cause. You will receive a Certificate of Appreciation 4 wristbands, an autographed picture of my cat* and a small bag of glitter. (Please be sure to sprinkle the glitter about yourself before leaving for work the next day. *I have 3 cats, please specify your preference for Ginger, Grey or Tabby, otherwise you will be sent a picture of the most well behaved cat on the day of the photoshoot). Items will be posted within 2 weeks of claim.
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Copy- 0 claimed
What can I say? You are generous, amazing and probably really good looking too! You will recieve a Certificate of Appreciation 2 wristbands and an autographed picture of my cat*. Items will be posted within 2 weeks of claim. (*The cat in the picture is for display purposes only and you may receive a picture of a completely different cat).
- 1 claimed
Such a generous soul. Thank you so much. With your Hollywood good looks and your Celebrity-like generosity, you have made an enormous contribution to our cause. You will receive a Certificate of Appreciation 4 wristbands, an autographed picture of my cat* and a small bag of glitter. (Please be sure to sprinkle the glitter about yourself before leaving for work the next day. *I have 3 cats, please specify your preference for Ginger, Grey or Tabby, otherwise you will be sent a picture of the most well behaved cat on the day of the photoshoot). Items will be posted within 2 weeks of claim.
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