Tis the season for helping others

Michelle Robinson, Simone The Sanctuary Refuge, Sharyn Christmas Angels, Theresa Agape Outreach, Andy & Zoe PTSD resurrected, Charmaine Webb 211221 © The Boat Works

On Tuesday 21 December, The Boat Works' extended family will spread some much-needed cheer and practical donations to charitable organisations supporting the families and individuals in need on the Gold Coast.

Coming together in the spirit of the season, the staff, tenants, business owners and customers of the boatyard and marina have raised funds and collected 36 of food & goods, 12 boxes of toiletries and 1 box of baby items to assist several local charities.

The Boat Works Christmas Drive is spearheaded by Michele Robinson, who has been in senior management at TBW for 12 years and who, with her husband is founder of "The Pride of Bettermen and Lionesses" whose aim is to support Gold Coast charities with fundraising and events.

This year, funds and donations of food and goods have been donated to a range of charities in the region:

The Sanctuary Refuge; provide safety, comfort, nutrition and counselling for women and children and pets to help repair the trauma associated with domestic violence. It receives no Government funding and relies on contributions from the community. The Sanctuary Refuge is unlike other government organisation in the fact they take in boys over the age of 12yrs and pets which is unlike other groups.

AGAPE Outreach; an organisation making a difference in the lives of hurting, broken and disenfranchised people providing them with meals on the streets, food hampers to families in need, helping people to set up in homes, training with basic life skills and finding housing. The group are looking to extend the support in 2022 by way of raising funds towards a housing program. Housing for the homeless with the aim to establish at least 40 homes to accommodate young families, older women, men etc. for housing for the homeless throughout the community.

Christmas Angels; an initiative of Global Spirited Women Australia. Gold Coast based Charity that has been operating since 2004, under the guidance of its amazing founder, 80 year-old Cheryl Spicer. A charity organization dedicated to providing lovely Hampers to people at Christmas time, who may not have the means or support for these items -with the majority of these going to single elderly pensioners, who are especially struggling in the current time due to huge rental increases. Plans for 2022 include a Christmas in July as feedback from the community is that the need is high during winter when energy consumption increases, more warm clothing is needed costs are generally higher.

PTSD Resurrected is a community of veterans, first responders and their families with lived experience. Supporting individual and families suffering from Trauma. Restoring hope, healing and purpose to the veteran first responder and wider community. No white coats, just mates helping mates. As trauma impacts everyone, they are opening up a trauma recovery programs to all people in the community not just the service and veteran community. This will require a significant increase in growth for the small charity. The Funds will go towards learning materials, venue hire, meals, facilitation cost etc.

As a community; The Boat Works' team, tenants and customers have also collected a vast amount of non-perishable and food items for 'Havafeed Relief', 'Kare Support Services' and 'St Johns Crisis Centre' - all of whom are pushed to the limits this time of year as individuals and families feel the impact of job insecurity, ill-health or homelessness, exacerbated by the pandemic.

"Throughout the year, we encourage our community to collect practical items or volunteer their time with one of the organisations supporting people in need," says Michele.

"As we plan to gather with friends and family, we are reminded that the Holidays can be a stressful or distressing time of year for so many people. This is our way of showing we care and that they matter."

A little goes a long way!