Coasties looking to give a meaningful gift this Christmas are asked to donate to Central Coast Local Health District’s Christmas Appeal 2024.
The Christmas Appeal is seeking to raise $50,000 to support outpatient paediatric services which would benefit from more donor support. These services include outreach and community services which care for vulnerable children experiencing poverty, domestic violence or living in foster care, children living with chronic and complex health conditions like cerebral palsy and congenital heart disorders, and Family Care Cottages which care for families with young children needing extra support and health advice.
Fundraising Director Kate Holloway says that donors often have a cause in mind when making donations, “We receive great support for our hospital wards and areas close to our donors’ hearts, but our paediatric outpatient services aren’t as well-known even though they care for some of the most vulnerable children in our community. We would like to ask our community to support them through the Christmas Appeal.”
Heidi Mulder is a nurse in the Wyong Family Care Cottage and supports new parents who are struggling. “Being a new parent can be hard enough, but some new parents are facing isolation, financial problems, lack of support or domestic violence,” explains Ms Mulder.
“For these families, our Family Care Cottages provide critical support to help parents succeed and their children to thrive. We aim to create an environment outside the hospital where people can receive care and feel safe.”
Ms Mulder says that the Family Care Cottages are seeking funding to upgrade equipment and make the cottages a more welcoming and homely environment, “For some, the clinical hospital environment can be traumatising. We create a safety net that wraps them up in a warm space that feels like home.”
Ms Holloway says that all donations will stay local to support local patients, children and their families on the Central Coast.
How to donate
Online: www.shoutforgood.com/fundraisers/CentralCoastHealthDistrictChristmasappeal
Or call: 4320 3659