From planting and pruning to spring cleaning, and more … our Victorian supporters got involved in productive working bees for our charity partners, saving them significant time and funds. Together, our community continues to make a difference in the lives of homeless and at-risk young people.
Vicinity Centres & Lighthouse Foundation
On 8 October, Vicinity Centres joined our Haven House Bonbeach working bee. Operated by Lighthouse Foundation, the home supports four young people who would otherwise be homeless and is one of our original Haven Houses. “Working bees like these are essential to maintaining the support that enables us to continue providing safe and secure homes for vulnerable youth,” says State Manager – Victoria, Priscilla Heathwood. Thanks, Vicinity!
MPA & Lighthouse Foundation
MPA teams in Melbourne and Sydney helped spring clean two of our Haven Houses. On 15 October, the Melbourne group rolled up their sleeves at Haven House Coburg, for Lighthouse Foundation. This six-bedroom house offers safe refuge and support for disadvantaged mothers and babies, with two live in carers.
Kador & Salvation Army St Kilda
A team of fantastic volunteers from Kador joined a working bees at The Salvation Army Upton Road youth refuge in St Kilda.
This purpose-built facility is made up of 13 self-contained units which provide crisis accommodation for young people who are experiencing homelessness, with a focus on connection with their physical environment. “Our garden has over 10 raised veggie beds, a 20-tree fruit orchard, chickens, and even a new beehive,” says Youth Services Program Manager Claire Edmanson. “Produce grown in the garden is used in the kitchen to prepare meals but a huge component of the garden program is its educative capacity and demonstrating to young people that healthy produce can be grown with a little effort, care and water.”
The focus of the Upton Road working bees, held on 16 October was to get their large gardens ready for summer. Volunteers from Kador got stuck in with weeding, planting new seedlings, raking out the chicken coop, pruning fruit trees and sanding the new children’s sandpit. “The most important part of working bees is that they allow us to achieve in half a day of volunteering what would otherwise take staff and young people months!” says Claire. “This means that our garden program can be much more focused on engagement and enjoying the space rather being totally task oriented.”
