Variety Queensland’s Christmas Appeal – providing back-to-school supplies to help disadvantaged kids
Every year, Variety tents across Australia hold a Christmas Appeal to raise funds in support of kids who are sick, disadvantaged or living with a disability. For Queensland, we identified a gap in our budget – EduKids grants, providing back-to-school basics for kids’ education such as stationary, exercise books, and textbooks.
We knew our community would appreciate supporting something practical like back-to-school supplies to ensure kids are not left out when it’s time to head back to school.
What we were not expecting was the level of need out there. As we started giving out the EduKids packs – thanks to your support – we heard some heartbreaking stories:
“We didn’t know how we were going to get through Christmas let alone get back to school… It has been raining all week and one of my girls had a hole in the bottom of her shoe, so she was coming home with wet feet every day. I cannot afford to get her another pair of shoes till next year, but I was able to get her second-hand pair to keep her going…
“The cost of living has spiralled out of control – just keeping a roof over their heads and a healthy meal on the table is the best we can do at the moment. This grant will help my children have everything they need to start school in 2025.”
“We are struggling and currently living with my parents. Christmas was hard but we got through it and now with three kids’ school stuff, I’m struggling to get on top.”
“I have three school aged children who need big help this year. We receive a family tax benefit and that is our only income fortnightly. I don’t have much but I try my best to put my kids’ needs first, especially their school and education costs. I don’t want my kids to miss out as that has happened in the past…
“Four years ago, they started school without any stationery… My kids will really appreciate this as it will mean everything for them to have their own stationery and not have to share or go to school and look at other kids with stationery and not them. My kids will feel loved, and this will give them the best start to their school year. Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart.”
THANK YOU for supporting our Christmas Appeal to help Queensland kids like these. And a very special thank you to our friends at Stationery Aid for working with us to organise these EduKids packs. As you can see, the EduKids packs can be a lifeline for many families.
