Spotlight on children’s organisation

Chances are you’ve heard of Variety’s involvement in the Mid West, but this time the charity is hoping to shift the spotlight on to the work of another local children’s organisation.

Variety WA Mid West will host its annual Ladies Luncheon this Sunday where event organisers are hoping to promote the work of Geraldton’s Westview Residential Group Home.

Westview takes in young people in the care of the Department of Child Protection and Family Affairs, where children aged eight to 17 years old are often too traumatised to be placed in foster care.

Depending on the circumstance, babies, toddlers and young children are also often placed at the centre for emergency care.

Variety Mid West WA regional co-ordinator Jan Ajduk said the annual luncheon, now in its fourth year, aimed at rallying support for the often unheard of organisations.

“Each year we raise support and awareness of a local organisation caring for our children because often people want to do something to help but aren’t aware of what’s out there,” she said.

“Westview is vital because they care for children who have often had very traumatic lives up until this point and they help them to work through those experiences.

“Whatever their stories may be, the staff give them the social support and counselling they need.”

Apart from raising awareness, the luncheon also hopes to support the group home by supplying them with essential items collected by attendees.

Prior to the luncheon, the ladies are asked to fill a Variety bag full of toiletries, stationary, clothing and comfort items staff at the centre can then use to care for the children.

A $10 limit is attached to the bags, but some donors have supplied goodies totalling in the hundreds over previous years.

The centre is unable to accept cash donations, so the goodie bags go a long way in supplying for the children’s needs and for also accepting emergency care placements.

Mrs Ajduk said the bags were essential to the children, and the ladies had an enjoyable time stocking them.

“I think people really enjoy being able to do a hands-on project to help support the organisation and a lot of them shop like they do for their own children,” she said.

“We’re often astonished at how big some of these bags get, so it’ll be exciting to see what the ladies have come up with this year.”

Tickets for the Ladies Luncheon are now sold out, but those wanting to contribute a bag are still encouraged to do so.

To receive a bag and for more information on what to stock it with, call the local Variety office on 99646977.