Central Coast Kids In Need

Charity - Central Coast Kids In Need

Item/s - Handmade Items for Annual Fundraiser Event

20 years ago in 1993 a local Central Coast mother was staying at Ronald McDonald House with her sick son when the Manager suggested she start a 'volunteer fundraising group' on the Central Coast to help other parents with their accommodation bills. These families all have seriously ill children with prolonged illness (a very large proportion are cancer patients, others with organ transplants and premature babies with life threatening health issues.

Not everyone is aware that there is a $33/night fee to stay at the Ronald McDonald Houses. As an example, following a bone marrow transplant a child needs to be isolated for some 6 weeks before returning home to the Central Coast. Bills for thousands of dollars would financially ruin young families. Central Coast families do not qualify for any government assistance as only families more than 100 kms away from the treating hospital are eligible.

To assist in the ongoing fundraising effort of our volunteers, we host an annual Trivia Night to try and raise funds for the families we support. It would be great to have some handcrafted items donated for prizes so we can raffle off a beautiful quilt, craft hamper or crocheted blanket as examples of ideas. It is our major fundraising function of the year, we have lucky numbers, raffles, silent auctions and also live auctions. Donations can be sent to CCKIN, PO Box 3268, Bateau Bay 2261, NSW. For more information please visit our Facebook page or website: 

Cure Our Kids - The Children's Hospital at Westmead

Charity - Cure Our Kids - The Children's Hospital at Westmead

Item/s - Currently seeking small and large Drawstring Bags

Medical treatment is only half the solution when it comes to childhood cancer. Cure Our Kids is here to help children with cancer and the families who love them with the rest. Our mission has been to restore normalcy to the lives of children with cancer and the families who love them at The Children's Hospital at Westmead. Through programs that address the emotional, social and financial needs of brave young patients and their families, Cure Our Kids empowers families to cope with the many painful challenges that childhood cancer presents.

Cure Our Kids receives no government funding. Our ability to deliver vital support services to families in crisis relies entirely on the support of our generous donors and supporters.

We are currently seeking handmade donations of small drawstring bags for our Bravery Bead program and large Drawstring Library Bags for children on the oncology ward so they can borrow books from the hospital library . Donations can be sent to Cure Our Kids, PO Box 404 Westmead, N.S.W 2145. For more information visit our Facebook page and website:

Peninsula Health - Frankston Hospital & Rosebud Hospital

Charity - Peninsula Health

Item/s - Knitted and Crocheted Beanies for babies, children and adults, Calico Dolls, Trauma Teddies and Blankets

Peninsula Health is the metropolitan public health service for Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula. We provide patient care at both Frankston and Rosebud Hospitals. We also offer extensive medical services through the Mornington Peninsula including acute medical, paediatric, surgical and maternity care, critical care, mental health services, aged care, rehabilitation, palliative care, residential care, community health, health education and promotion, outpatient services, aged care and assessment, investigative and medical support services, allied health, and clinical training.

Peninsula Health consists of 15 sites, employs over 5,000 people and is supported by more than 800 volunteers and auxiliary members. Peninsula Health doesn't have a volunteer craft group (we’d love to though!) but we do receive occasional craft donations. We always appreciate donation of knitted or crocheted beanies and scarves for our cancer and aged care patients, blankets and beanies for our special care paediatric nursery (such tiny things!),  Calico dolls for paediatric patients, Trauma Teddies for patients admitted to our Emergency Department and Crochet blankets for Palliative Care. For details on how to make trauma teddies, contact Peninsula Health’s ACE volunteer coordinator Jenni O’Sullivan on 0448 598 438 and you can view the free knitting pattern HERE. Please be mindful sick patients often have sensitive skin so donations need to be made out of material that is soft, warm and not itchy. For more information about Peninsula Health visit our website:

Canberra Hospital Foundation

Charity - Canberra Hospital Foundation

Item/s - Knitted and Crocheted Adult Beanies, Scarves, Blankets and Premature Baby Beanies and Blankets

The Canberra Hospital Foundation launched in 2011 and assists the Canberra Hospital to provide exceptional clinical care by raising funds for equipment, to support research and to enhance facilities for patient and family centered care.

Patients and their families are always grateful to receive handmade items during their stay at the Canberra Hospital. Knitted and crocheted items such as scarves, beanies, blankets, premature baby clothing are greatly appreciated. Contact the Canberra Hospital Foundation for details on how to donate. Visit our Facebook page and website below for more information.

Tea Cosy Competition for Cancer Council Victoria

Charity - Cancer Council Victoria
Item/s - Tea Cosies

Every year, almost 30,000 Victorians will be diagnosed with cancer, and 11,000 will die from cancer. The number of cases will increase as our population grows and ages. Survival will also improve as we get better at early detection and treatment of cancer.

Since their establishment in 1937, Cancer Council Victoria has developed an international reputation for our innovative work in cancer research, prevention and support. As an independent, not-for-profit organisation, the Cancer Council plays a leading role in reducing the impact of all cancers on all people.

If you’ve always wanted to make a tea cosy here’s a good reason! The aim of the competition is to raise $10,000 for the Australian Cancer Council. There is a $250 prize for the best tea cosy, as judged by our panel! Entries can be posted to ‘Tea Cosy Competition’ PO Box 109, Ringwood East Post Office, 3135.

Closing date for entries is Friday 27th June, 2014. The tea cosies will be on display and for sale at Warratina Lavender Farm from 5th-13th July, 2014. To make a donation click on the website below.

Warming Beautiful Souls

Charity - Pediatrics
Item/s - Handmade gift for children & teenagers

Warming Beautiful Souls was created to bring moments of happiness to children battling cancer, inspired by the beautiful children we met during our own daughter Maya's journey with cancer. Maya was born with Rhabdomyosarcoma and spent most of her 23 months of life in hospital receiving treatment, before finding eternal peace in November 2013.

After months of distributing hundreds of wonderful donated gifts to children fighting cancer in eight hospitals around Australia, we decided to expand our focus. On each hospital visit it tore at our hearts that so many children were suffering prolonged and repeated hospitalisation, for serious illnesses other than just cancer. A child suffering is a child suffering, despite their illness. So we have expanded our focus to include all children suffering serious illnesses.

We are pleased to announce that WBS now has wonderful people in each state/territory helping distribute the items people donate, so your gifts will go to children in your local major hospital. Warming Beautiful Souls accepts handmade gift for babies, children and teenagers including knitted, crocheted and sewn goods. For more information and a list of local distributors visit the Facebook Page