How you can help Bonnie’s women and children

At Bonnie’s, every dollar donated is spent on the women and children we support, many of whom experience hardship and disadvantage when they access our service. Our donors share our vision of a safe world where women and children flourish and reach their full potential, and there many ways in which individuals and businesses support our clients, through donating their time and money, fundraising and volunteering. Here’s how you can help:

Financial Donations

Financial donations can be made as a one-off payment via our website, directly into our bank account. There is also the option to set up a regular monthly donation. This is a simple but effective way to make a difference in the lives of our women and children.

Every dollar counts. Typically, we use the money for activities for the children in our service during school holidays, or for emergency assistance items such as furniture or white goods, for women who are beginning again with very little. The needs of our clients are varied when they start taking control of their lives. Donations often fill the gaps and really help our clients re-establish themselves.

You can also nominate where your money will be spent and we will ensure it is directed to the area of your choice.

With the end of the financial year almost upon us, a donation to Bonnie’s may be timely! Bonnie’s is endorsed by the Australian Taxation Office as a deductible gift recipient (DGR), which means you may be able to claim a tax deduction for any donation you make of $2 or more.

Corporate Support

Corporate support via a community-business partnership is another way to make a difference. This year, we entered into a community-business partnership with Australian Finance Group, an Australian mortgage broker. AFG recently organised a social fundraising event for their staff and brokers, with all the proceeds donated to Bonnie’s. Funds raised will enable us to run school holiday activities for a year.

Donation of Goods and Supplies

Bonnie’s regularly receives a range of items from the community. Certain things are always needed and make a real difference to our women and children, such as Opal travel cards and grocery gift cards, household items, linen, toiletries, sanitary products, and toys and activities for children and adolescents.

OzHarvest, the leading food rescue organisation in Australia, is another example of a company that provides direct support for our families, by delivering fresh food and groceries every week. See our earlier post for details on how OzHarvest has made a difference to the lives of many of our clients.

Women and children who enter our service often flee their homes with very little in the way of personal belongings. Australian clothing designer and manufacturer Hotsprings regularly donates to Bonnie’s. It means so much to our women and children to be given a fresh start.

Fundraising

Some individuals and companies support us by organising annual fundraisers, such cake stalls, morning teas, BBQs or collections. Gertie and Ruth is an online shop, created by one of our supporters, Trish Williams, who sells donated and scavenged second-hand and vintage goods and hand-knitted tea cosies. The money raised supports two women’s refuges, one of which is Bonnie’s. It’s amazing what one person can achieve, with the support of family, friends and community. See our inspiring supporter story on Gertie and Ruth.

Staffs from Bunnings Villawood have been regular supporters of Bonnie’s. Past activities have included a cake stall, as well as donations of goods such as a mower, whipper snipper and power tools for use by our clients, as this post highlights.

If you are interested in organising a fundraising activity, please contact us to discuss.

Volunteer Services

Donating to a charity does not necessarily mean a cash donation. You can contribute by donating your time, skills and expertise. Last year, local company ParexDavco, who specialise in rejuvenating old bathroom tiles, transformed several of our transitional properties when their tradespeople volunteered to paint, tile and clean, as this post emphasises.

Each year we have individuals who volunteer their time and skills in a variety of ways, all of which make a big difference to our clients. For example, Kerry Newdick, who has provided a monthly pop-up pampering club including skin care, massage and make up.

Volunteer services from the general public, corporate partners and other community groups play an important role in helping us achieve our mission. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact us to discuss.

Pro Bono Services

Bonnie’s clients are continuously in need of a range of specialised services such as legal, immigration and employment. We are keen to secure more pro bono services. Please spread the word or contact us if you think you may be able to assist.

Lastly, for those who don’t know us yet, we encourage you to make contact to discover what we do here at Bonnie’s. We are a committed group of women who deliver real change to hundreds of women and children each year, since the early 1970s. We would love you to be a part of our story.

 Written by Heike