Making children’s birthdays brighter

ROTARY Club of Highton is calling on the local community for donations of birthday gifts for children from families experiencing domestic and family violence.

The local club is collecting gifts for children aged 0 to 12, given to people in the men’s and women’s Say No2 Domestic and Family Violence programs run by Meli.

Rotary Club of Highton community committee director Pam Carroll said there is a big need in the community for the project.

“When you’re under financial difficulty stress, those things are things that you want to do, but can be quite difficult to find the finances for,” she said.

“I personally feel that it’s the responsibility of each one of us in the community to do what we can to assist where we can with this so we can try and turn the tide around on it.”

The club is looking for donations of soft toys, paint sets, books, sensory items and more up to the value of $20.

People can also provide gift cards up to the same value from retailers including Officeworks and JB Hi-Fi for older children.

“It’s up to the person who gives, of course, but we didn’t want to make it to be a load on people either, we just want to make people aware and we’re asking them to give where they can,” Ms Carroll said.

Gift donations can be dropped off into boxes at Amcal Pharmacy and Pardeys Pharmacy in Highton Shopping Village or at Really Good Gifts in the Waurn Ponds Shopping Centre.

People donating are also encouraged to use it as an opportunity to shop local and support the businesses where the drop off boxes are located.

Donations to the gift program will be open until October 27.