We simply can't help them without you.
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“My client…suffers from a brain injury due to domestic violence. Mum had absolutely nothing for the newborn baby who arrived early by C-Section on Monday. The team at Geelong Mums were able to source our requests for support for baby items quickly. The family were overjoyed with the baby equipment…and are now able to prepare their home. Thank you to everyone who has donated to Geelong Mums, this is the spirit of Australia…”
– Social Worker Partner of Geelong Mums
Hi Friend,
That story is one of hundreds that we hear about at Geelong Mums through our Safe Start Program. Because of our supporters we are able to run this amazing program and give real, practical help to the most vulnerable women in our state.
The Safe Start Program is our emergency aid program that we provide to almost every public hospital in Victoria. We support women who are identified as not having the essentials to ensure their newborn baby can be safely transported home from hospital and sleep safely when they get there.
These women are the most vulnerable in our state and they are in crisis. Without the assistance of the Safe Start Program, they face leaving the hospital without their newborn baby. Without your help, we simply could not provide this service.
Our Safe Start Program was started when we realised there was a gap in providing for women who were arriving at hospital in labour with no prenatal care. That also meant they were not equipped with the essentials they needed to care for their newborns.
To assist these women we created the Safe Start kit:
Currently, we provide the Safe Start Program to almost every public hospital in Victoria. We operate the Program in one of two ways.
1. We provide hospitals with the stock they need to compile a Safe Start Kit when the demand arises. This usually means a room put aside at the hospital, with Geelong Mums providing all the items needed, ready for a mum in crisis.
Or
2. We provide emergency Safe Start kits from our warehouse directly to the hospital in time for the mum to safely take her newborn baby home.
Last year, this Program ensured over 350 babies were taken home from hospital safely with essential nursery equipment valued at over $165,000. Without the Safe Start Program these families may not have been able to leave hospital together - it’s unthinkable what might happen without the support that you enable us to provide.
“Without this service these women would not have the means to ensure their newborn and other children in the family have access to basic items many of us take for granted. Geelong Mums always go out of their way to ensure families are given the support they need.”
– Social Worker Partner of Geelong Mums
In order to continue this vital program, we need your help. We need $46,000 to ensure Safe Start can run for the next 12 months. Without crucial funds from our supporters, we can not guarantee that a mum, facing the reality of leaving her newborn in hospital, can be given the essentials she urgently needs.
More than anything, we at Geelong Mums want to continue to support babies to thrive. But we need your help. Friend, if you are able to give a financial gift today to help ensure the longevity of the Safe Start program and it’s positive impact for hundreds more newborns and their families I would be very grateful.
Thank you,
Ruth Holdaway MBE
Chief Executive Officer
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