The Mother of All Gifts
Elwood Toy Library
Community. Sustainability. Sharing.
In addition to the incredible array of toys my son gets to borrow from the toy library, membership offers the chance to impart key values I want him to embrace. They’re some of the same tenets that make local nonprofit St. Kilda Mums so vital and valued – not to mention top of mind as Mother’s Day approaches.
St. Kilda Mums’ mission is “to share the joy of motherhood, in partnership with support agencies, by recycling baby essentials.” This volunteer-run organisation partners with maternal child health nurses and social services agencies to provide gently used and new baby goods and nursery equipment to families experiencing hardship. The need is great; the group helps more than 70 families a week.
Here are a few ways to help:
* Donate your gently used children’s clothing and equipment. Cots, prams, car seats, clothing, and other baby essentials are in demand. See www.stkildamums.org for a complete list of acceptable items as well as donation dates/times/locations.
* Make a cash donation. Consider donating in your own mum’s name as a meaningful Mother’s Day gift that keeps on giving. Here’s how.
* Create a One Mother to Another gift. Assemble a gift bag of new women’s toiletries, add a note, and post it or drop it off at the St. Kilda location. Your gift will be given to a mum in need. Get details.
* Volunteer. Accept and sort donations, help social workers choose the best items for their families, assist with general admin in the office – there’s no shortage of volunteer opportunities.
* Attend the annual Mother’s Day Luncheon. Tickets sold out for this year’s popular event, so get your friends together and plan ahead for next year.
* Share the love. Spread the word about the great work St. Kilda Mums is doing and let your kids know that they’re helping other families – and the earth – by passing on pre-loved items that might otherwise end up in a landfill. Your donation might just be the best gift a mum in need has ever received.
Get more information at www.stkildamums.org. And happy Mother’s Day!