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Christmas can be a challenging time for young people who are experiencing homelessness, but Hope Street Youth and Family Services and its corporate partners are doing what they can to spread some festive cheer.
Four corporate partners - Ecodynamics, Mirvac, Woodgrove Shopping Centre and Stramit – have joined with Hope Street for a Christmas appeal that will see over 70 young people receive Christmas gifts, food hampers and gift vouchers. The youth are either accommodated at Hope Street's refuge or residential accommodation sites in Brunswick, Whittlesea or Melton, or are receiving outreach services.
Each Hope Street site has also received a Christmas tree, which the young people have helped to decorate.
Hope Street CEO, Donna Bennett, said the response from Hope Street's corporate partners had blown her away. "We put the word out that we wanted to do something special for our young people this Christmas, and within 24 hours we had our corporate partners responding with such passion and generosity. It's heartening to know that, because of their support, every young person will receive a gift this Christmas morning," she said.
Donna emphasized that the Christmas food hampers would be a great support for young people receiving outreach services through Hope Street. "Many of our outreach clients are couch-surfing, staying with friends or extended family. The Christmas hamper gives them an opportunity to contribute to the household, which they feel great about," she said.
We spoke with some of our corporate partners to find out why they chose to engage in Hope Street's Christmas appeal. Here's what they had to say:
Sarah Clarke
Group General Manager Sustainability & Reputation
www.mirvac.com
Why is Mirvac passionate about making an impact on youth homelessness in Melbourne and surrounds?
Mirvac wants to be a force for good in the community. We want to make a difference by doing what we're good at, and that's building strong bonds – in shelter and relationships. We're also conscious that in giving time and other resources, we also gain great insights into the communities in which we operate.
What is your Christmas message or wish for young people who are experiencing homelessness?
May the flame of hope continue to burn brightly for you throughout this festive season.
How did your staff respond to the call out to purchase presents for Hope Street's young people, and what did it mean to them to be involved in a campaign like this?
Mirvac offers employees unlimited volunteer leave, and we appreciated the chance to build upon our relationship with Hope Street's young people. Our National Community Day saw 810 employees volunteer across 51 projects.
Nick Somes
Managing Director
www.ecodynamics.com.au
What is it about Hope Street that excites Ecodynamics?
Over the past two years, Ecodynamics has been involved first hand with Hope Street. The passion and dedication of the staff at Hope Street is very heartening, and we have seen how hard everyone at the organisation works to help their clients. It is very heart warming and aligns really well with the values of the Ecodynamics Group. Ultimately we would love to put an end to youth homelessness, but of course we can't do this singlehandedly. Partnering with Hope Street gives our business and our employees the chance to make a real difference.
Why is Ecodynamics passionate about making an impact on youth homelessness in Melbourne and surrounds?
In 2018, it is inconceivable that we still have a homelessness problem in a country like ours. Homeless youth hits even closer to home, as we are a family business and many of us have children. The hardships faced by Hope Street's clients are something that are unimaginable to most of us. As a business that has a strong sense of community, Ecodynamics feel that anything we can do to help those that are less fortunate than ourselves is a major part of our corporate social responsibility.
What is your Christmas message or wish for young people who are experiencing homelessness?
Everyone deserves to feel safe and happy, especially at Christmas. I suppose that overarching message we'd like to convey to homeless youth is that somebody cares about you. We want you to see the Christmas tree we've donated to your refuge and smile. We want you to know that there are so many people working hard behind the scenes to make your life better, and that you matter.
How did your staff respond to the call out to purchase presents for Hope Street's young people, and what did it mean to them to be involved in a campaign like this?
All the Managers across the Victorian business were keen to help in any way they can. I think they're excited to unleash their inner child by shopping for gifts, and this gives them a legitimate excuse! It also gives us the opportunity to contribute to the local community in a meaningful, lasting and positive way. If something as simple as buying a gift makes a homeless young person smile, there is nothing more worthwhile than that.
Suzanne Mallia
Marketing Manager
www.woodgrove.com.au
What is it about Hope Street that excites Woodgrove?
Woodgrove has been a proud supporter of Hope Street since September 2015, when our team first became aware of the important work the community agency was undertaking within the heart of the Melton community to assist young people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. As a shopping centre with thousands passing through our doors each year, our partnership has provided this wonderful organisation connection with the local community to raise awareness and much needed funds for the important work they do.
How is Woodgrove supporting Hope Street this Christmas?
Woodgrove will again host a gift wrapping stand for one week in the lead up to Christmas whereby shoppers can get their gifts wrapped beautifully in return for a gold coin donation to Hope Street. Together with our community, we hope to donate a great contribution, helping to top our last year's contribution of over $1800 in one week. In addition, we have our blog regularly profiling Hope Street's great work and progress – with the most recent post being about Hope Street's Hope to Home program. We use any opportunity we get to raise awareness and funds for this great organisation that's doing much-needed work for young people who are homeless. See Wrapping up a gold donation for more details about the Christmas gift wrapping stand.
What is your Christmas message or wish for young people who are experiencing homelessness?
All of us at Woodgrove wish those that Hope Street supports a happy and safe holiday period, free from uncertainty and stress and aided by the wonderful and valuable work Hope Street does.
This Christmas season, over 6000 young Victorians aged 12 to 24 years old will experience homelessness. Hope Street youth refuges and residential accommodation sites will be home to 23 young people, several of whom have children, and over 50 young people or young families will receive outreach support services.
