Jaimee is the executive officer of Loved and Shared, a community organisation run by volunteers which re-gifts clothes and toys for children in need throughout the south-west of Victoria.
“We have collected 5000 kilograms of goods this year for redistributing,” Jaimee said.
“Our original target was 3000, so we definitely underestimated.”
The organisation’s target for distribution packs is well on its way to being reached, with 150 being distributed through selected agencies so far in 2023.
“Our target was 300, so we have also done well there.”
Loved and Shared has been awarded almost $5000 from the Foundation for Rural Regional Renewal (FRRR) and Gardiner Dairy Foundation grants, which will go toward maintaining the organisation.
The program this year awarded $120,000 to Victorian dairy communities statewide and attracted much interest from a variety of community organisations.
FRRR CEO Natalie Egleton said community groups had reported challenges in local fundraising following two years of COVID-19 interruptions and increasing operational costs.
“Despite this, these local groups show a determination to overcome challenges and invest in projects and initiatives that enhance local opportunities or help fill gaps in service delivery,” Natalie said.
“This diversity of projects reflects that each of these communities is different and, therefore, so too are their needs and priorities.
“We are grateful to the Gardiner Foundation for recognising the importance of communities being able to access flexible funding to fill these gaps and for partnering with us for so long to provide this funding.”
The Gardiner Dairy Foundation invests in people, science and technology projects that aim to maximise benefits to all sectors of the Victorian dairy industry and Victorian dairy communities, and has contributed more than $85 million to dairy industry projects since 2000.
Loved and Shared relies on public donations from community members re-gifting their pre-loved toys and children’s clothing.
“We then do a little bit of refurbishments, mending clothing and nursery equipment.”
The charity is managed by 30 volunteers who have clocked up 500 hours so far this year and who take pride in “dressing up” packages for delivery.
“We beautifully pack everything to maintain the dignity of the recipient,” Jaimee said.
“Our impact is pretty significant, even though we have only just started distributing our stuff through social services.”
The organisation supports families in situations of domestic violence, under-employment, unplanned pregnancy, emergency relief and financial hardship.
The organisation operates as a professional outfit, with rows of steel shelving hold 400 uniform recycled cardboard boxes donated by chemists in the region, housing the goods in a space that is as neat as a pin.
“We try to be very professional in how we operate and contemporary as well to appeal to a younger demographic,” Jaimee said.
“We incorporate sustainability in everything we do because that aligns with our values as well. So we use compostable tissue paper and stickers on the gifts.”
Conception of the organisation came from four participants in the Leadership Great South Coast program two years ago.
“They did a research project and found that in 2018 there were over 4000 kids living in poverty in south-west Victoria and that 25 tons of toys were going to landfill every year,” Jaimee said.
“So we have addressed both the social and environmental impact of such research.”
Loved and Shared relies heavily on donations from families in which children have outgrown their clothes and toys and encourages parents to think of other children and the environment before disposing of such goods.
“Unless we have those donated goods then we don’t have stock to pass on.
“It takes a village to raise a child, so we need a local community to get involved in all of this.”
Drop off days and financial donation details can be found at: www.lovedandshared.org.au
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