Rotary funds raise Sunshine

ALICIA S. COOK

EACH year, the Rotary clubs of Bendigo and South Bendigo host a Christmas market with the aim of raising funds for the community.

Last year’s efforts came to $5000 which the clubs donated to Sunshine Bendigo, a charity that supplies baby goods to families in crisis.

The funds were used to purchase items including prams, car seats, and cots, which founder of Sunshine, Glenda Serpell, said were a big help.

“Families in crisis are usually without funds or the accessibility of funds to purchase these things for their babies,” she said.

New parents can’t leave hospital with newborns without a safe means of transport, and having a car seat or pram can mean the difference between being mobile or stuck at home.

“These are crucial things, and cots also,” she said. “A safe place to sleep, a safe way of transport and the ability to be out and about.”

Ms Serpell said financial donations help the organisation to fulfill needs for larger items that aren’t met by community donations of second-hand goods.

“There’s 36 orders ready to go out to people that are in crisis situation, so it’s fantastic, words can’t explain how beneficial this is to our organisation,” she said.

Sunshine Bendigo was selected as the beneficiary of the funds as one of Rotary’s core values is to support mothers and babies.

“Sunshine was just perfect, it just fitted into everything we wanted to do,” said Libby Hughes, committee member for the Rotary Christmas Market.

“It was a community event, the market, and we wanted it to go to a local charity and to help local people,” she said.