Community creating Care Kits for Queensland children in care or crisis.
Care Kits for Kids Qld Inc.
Our Care Kits provide 2 days of practical essential needs, (new backpacks of new clothes, toiletries, education supplies, books, toys, quilts/wraps) giving comfort and dignity, showing children in care or crisis that they matter and their community cares.
🎒 FUNDRAISING EVENTS 🎒
Buster’s Duelling Pianos – a Request Based Piano Party Charity Event for Care Kits for Kids Qld!
3pm – 6pm Sunday 13th October
Easts Leagues Club Lounge –
$10 Tickets.
(Book here: Select 13/10 on the booking calendar to book)
Since 2005, Buster’s Duelling Pianos have been captivating audiences with their extraordinary talent and infectious energy.
Join us for an unforgettable Sunday afternoon as two world-class pianists take the stage. With a repertoire featuring the classic hits of Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Billy Joel, and more, this Piano Party promises a lively and interactive experience.
Be part of the fun as the dueling pianists invite you to request your favorite tunes, dance along, and enjoy a performance that’s sure to leave a lasting impression.
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🗓️ SAVE THE DATE: 9 Nov 2024
3 course Dinner at the Marriot Hotel.
Theme: James Bond
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Stalls:
Bulimba Community Centre Markets
Sunday, October 13, 2024
Palm Lake Resort Carindale Stall
8am to 12pm Saturday, October 19, 2024
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JAL financial donations ongoing
👯🕺💃DANCE FOR A DIFFERENCE 💃🕺👯
HUGE THANKS to the JAL Julie-ann Lucas School of Dance community for their spectacular DANCE FOR A DIFFERENCE’ concert on 10 August 2024.
A JAL record for funds were raised for Care Kits for Kids Qld.
The JAL Donations page is still active for any further donations :
💃 DONATE here now for the JAL Dance for a Difference Fundraiser!💕
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The Care Kits for Kids Qld Inc team has been recognised through Awards, and are very grateful to be partially funded by occasional Grants and generous donations:
FINALIST Westfield Local Hero 2024 – Stephanie Hinrichs representing Care Kits for Kids Qld. Voting results announced mid October.
WINNER: Queensland Volunteering Impact Award (2024)
Presented in recognition of a community volunteering program or activity that has made a positive, measurable and sustainable social and/or economic impact on the Queensland community.
Queensland Community Achievement Awards
WINNER: QLD Family and Child Commission Dedicated to Supporting Young Queenslanders Award (2023)
The Queensland Family and Child Commission (QFCC) upholds a set of fundamental beliefs that underpin our commitment to supporting young Queenslanders. Established in 2014, the QFCC believes in promoting the safety, well-being, and best interests of children and young people, as well as the crucial roles of families and communities in protection and care. By sponsoring the Dedicated to Supporting Young Queenslanders Award, the QFCC further reinforces these beliefs by recognizing and celebrating individuals or organisations that share our vision and actively work towards empowering and uplifting young Queenslanders. This Award serves as a testament to the unwavering commitment to fostering a supportive environment for the growth and development of young people throughout the state.
FINALIST: Bendigo Bank Community Group of the Year Award (2023, 2022)
With a presence across cities, regions and remote areas, Bendigo Bank strives to support and be a part of the communities in which it operates. The Bendigo Bank Community Group of the Year Award recognises groups, organisations and not for profits that share a strong sense of team spirit and play a vital role in enhancing meaningful connections and social wellbeing in their community.
Whether it be working on an event, project, initiative, providing a service or program, support or any type of community activity, the award will recognise groups, organisations and not for profits that bring people together, by providing support programs and services, connection and engagement programs and encouraging inclusion for all members of the community.
It is important to recognise and celebrate these groups, as their efforts help to make strong and vibrant communities, which is a benefit to us all. FINALIST: Queensland Community Volunteering Program Impact Award 2023
Presented in recognition of a community volunteering program or activity that has made a positive, measurable and sustainable social and/or economic impact on the Queensland community.
Gambling Community Benefit Fund (GCBF) Grant 2024
Lord Mayors Charitable Trust Grants (2024 / 2023 / 2022 / 2021)
Easts Leagues Foundation – Community Benefit Fund (2024)
JAL Dance for a Difference Concert Donation (2024)
Griffith Volunteer Grant – Max Chandler-Mather MP (2024)
Officeworks Make A Difference Appeal (June 2023)
Civic Solutions Grant (2023)
Club Southside Grants (2023)
Macquarie Group Foundation Grant (2023)
Brisbane Broncos Charity Fund Grant (2023)
Griffith Stronger Communities Grant – Max Chandler-Mather MP (2023)
Qld Line Dance Association (2023)
BMD Community Assistance Grant (2023)
Children’s Week Grant – Children’s Rights Queensland (2023, 2022)
Trefoil Guild Qld 2022/23
CommBank Staff Foundation Grants 2021 / 2022
Kedron Wavell Services Inc Community Grant 2022
HIGHLY COMMENDED WasteSMART Community Award 2022
FINALIST Outstanding WasteSMART Award,
FINALIST People’s Choice WasteSMART Award (2021)
Lord Mayor’s Community Fund Grants (2022, 2021, 2019)
Westfield Carindale Local Heroes Award Finalist Grant (2022)
Westfund Sponsorship Grant (2021)
Bonner Volunteer Awards (Community Groups)
Finalist in Australia Pacific LNG Community Hero Award (2021)
Electorate Queensland Day Award (2020) from Hon Di Farmer MP, Queensland’s Minister for Child Safety, Youth and Women and Minister for Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence – Chris Rafter (President) representing the Care Kits for Kids Qld Inc. team (2022, 2020)
RACQ Local Sponsorship Grant (2020)
Electorate Volunteers Grant from Terri Butler MP (2020)
Finalist in Waste Smart Brisbane Awards: Chris Rafter (President) representing the Care Kits for Kids Qld Inc. team (2020)
Bonner Local Legend Award to Chris Rafter (President) representing the Care Kits for Kids Qld Inc. team (2020)4
Ways To Donate
GIVE! Help put a smile on a child's face. Show children in crisis that they matter, and their community cares. You can make a difference by donating time, skills, finances, in-kind or handmade items .
Join our Sewing & Crafting Community
We use donated fabric & yarn in the #waronwaste to make clothes, toys, pencil cases, hair accessories & bags for Care Kits. We accept #handmade items for babies through to teens.
Find A Donation Point
Donations can be left at one of our Donation Points during business hours, or taken directly to 147 Samuel St Camp Hill any Monday, Thursday or 1st Saturday of the month.
What We Do
We #give back
We provide an opportunity for people, organisations and businesses to give back to their community so no child has to go without basic necessities, comfort or hope. DONATION POINTS are at MPs' and Councillors' offices around greater Brisbane.
We are #community
Since we began in Feb 2018, we have developed ever-growing networks with volunteers and supporters from all sectors of our community: school children to seniors; craft and community groups and businesses, large and small. Our giving, caring community is simply amazing!
We #waronwaste
Join our volunteers who create clothing, accessories, pencil cases, toys etc for Care Kits from donated fabric & yarn. Virtually nothing goes to landfill; textiles we can't use go to others who can use it. We accept handmade items. Join our sewing / craft groups. Or recycle your containers for us.
We #educate
We can be booked for presentations to community organisations, schools and businesses around greater Brisbane, where we demonstrate Care Kit contents and the huge need for our Queensland community to help children in crisis or entering foster care.
We #fillthegap
We supply free age-specific Care Kits at point of need
throughout Queensland to
💖 Qld Police Child Protection units,
💖 Qld Child Safety agencies,
💖 Foster and Kinship Care agencies,
💖 Domestic Violence agencies
💖 School and other programmes
We are #childsafe
All Care Kit contents are approved and reviewed as safe and relevant by Child Safety officers: “Your Care Kits are amazing. They have everything a child needs and nothing that they shouldn’t have.” (Child Safety Officer Qld, 2020)
Who do we help?
What We Do - Who We Help
Around 12,000 Queensland children
aged 0 to 17
are in out-of-home care or in crisis.
(Qld Dept CYJMA, Dec 2022)
These children often leave
unsafe situations with nothing but
the clothes they are wearing.
They may have no clothes that fit, no warm clothes, sometimes no undies or even a toothbrush.
We provide free age specific Care Kits
containing 2 days’ supply of:
new clothing,
toiletries,
education supplies,
book,
toy &
quilt / wrap.
Donations for these children
can be left at any of our
DONATION POINTS
Why Choose Us
Request Care Kits
Our Care Kits can be requested
at no cost,
at point of need,
all year round
by any Queensland organisation who
directly assists children in crisis:
Qld Police Child Protection units,
Qld Child Safety services,
Domestic Family Violence services
Foster and Kinship Care services,
Indigenous assistance services
& Programmes assisting children in crisis
eg floods, fire, refugees, schools…
Impact Stories
💕A 16-year-old boy put our little handmade stuffed fabric heart into his pocket to remind himself people cared, encouraging him to care what he made of his life.
💕A traumatised young girl refused to undergo a shower and nits removal… until she realised our Care Kit had lovely new clothes AND fancy hair bows and hairclips just waiting for her to put them all (!) into lovely clean hair.
💕One 12 year old boy became very excited upon seeing the new pyjamas in his Care Kit. They happened to be exactly the same as the ones he had to leave behind!
💕Two amazing emergency and short-term foster carers once had a child arrive with no underpants, needing an emergency night trip to the shops. The next time, children arrived with their new Care Kits and had everything needed to be comfortable for the next 2 days. These carers now help support Care Kits for Kids Qld through Containers for Change / donations so more children in crisis can benefit.
💕One young child didn’t know how to use a toothbrush. He had never owned one before, let alone a brand new one just for himself!
💕One year 9 student leader chose to support Care Kits for Kids Qld Inc through a donation drive for Year 7s at his high school for a Duke of Edinburgh award. The entire school community helped him achieve his goal.
💕One young girl mobilised her whole Grade 3 class to donate education items for Care Kits for Kits Qld.
💕One teenage girl used all her birthday money to put together a complete Care Kit for a teen girl doing it tough.
💕One young man from our disability group of volunteers proudly told everyone ‘I come to work, now!’
💕 A guest speaker at our thank you function for donors began with "I was one of those kids. I know what a huge difference it makes for a child to be given a Care Kit"
💕A mother who had escaped domestic violence with her children (and virtually nothing else), organised a huge donation for us at her large workplace as she knew how much of a practical difference, hope and comfort a comprehensive Care Kit can provide.
Many hundreds of items are needed for packing an average of 430 (up to 650) Care Kits every month.
You can help by donating any new items listed below through
a Donation Point near you, or through a financial donation.
See our Facebook Page pinned post for urgent needs and updates.
Queensland's at risk children
The plight of children in crisis or care is heartrending:
Around 12,000 Queensland children aged 0 to 17 are living away from home.
The number of children in out-of-home care increased by another 1036 children
in just one year to 30 June 2020.
58% of children in out-of-home care were Indigenous,
mostly placed with kin, other Indigenous carers or Indigenous residential services (2021)
ICE drug use impacting the safety of children is significant.
More than 40% of children who came into the care of the department
during the 12 months to June 2021 had a parent with current or previous methamphetamine use.
4,332 children were in need of protection from domestic violence as the child
did not have a parent able and willing to protect them from harm.
Another 2,441 children had one parent trying to protect them from family & domestic violence (FDV)
60% of sexual assault victims (3,435 victims) were under 18 years of age at the date of incident.
31% were FDV assaults. (ABS, 2021)
75% of households had multiple risk factors impacting safety of their children:
drug/alcohol abuse (63%), mental illness (54%), recent domestic and family violence (49%).
We also provide Care Kits for children impacted by flood, fire, disaster, refugee or other events that leave them in need.
Sources: CYJMA 2020, 2021; ABS 2021
Handmade hearts
are placed in each Care Kit,
as unique as each child who receives them.
They are a pocket sized hug
from our community –
a message that each child matters,
and their community cares.
