DON KR Castlemaine are proud supporters of local community-based volunteer group Sunshine Bendigo.
Sunshine Bendigo provides practical support to families experiencing challenging times in the Central Victorian region.
The organisation was established in 2016 due to the growing need in the area for families requiring a helping hand to provide for their families.
As a registered charity with a DGR status, Sunshine Bendigo collects, sorts, and redistributes essential new and pre-loved baby goods and nursery equipment to families in need via referrals from case workers across eight shires.
All items re-homed are checked to meet current Australian Safety Standards and are in good working condition.
The local volunteer organisation celebrated its 10th Birthday last month and thanks everyone who has supported their efforts to make lives brighter.
DON have made numerous financial contributions to the organisation over the last decade.
Representatives of the local smallgoods manufacturer also regularly attend Sunshine Bendigo fundraising events, and staff also contribute to their annual Christmas Toy Drive.
Sunshine Bendigo founder and director Glenda Serpell said they are a referral service and work with caseworkers to support those in need right across Central Victoria, including Mount Alexander Shire.
“Families are referred to us by professionals who have assessed their needs, which may arise from situations such as natural disasters, family violence, health issues, homelessness, emergency or foster care, unemployment, and many other reasons.
“We helped numerous families in the wake of the Harcourt and district fire earlier this year and we are assisting families in the Mount Alexander Shire every week,” she said.
Sunshine Bendigo collect clothing, equipment and essentials for preemie babies through to six year olds, including bedding to prams, car seats, toys and books.
Their incredible team of more than 60 volunteers painstakingly sort and pack these items into beautiful individual packs for each child, supplying everything they may need from clothing and undergarments to PJs, shoes and socks and even toys and a book.
“We always aim to include something handmade whether it be a toy, blanket or quilt so each child receives something special made with love,” Glenda said.
“We have volunteers working in our clothes sorting room, cleaning car seats, performing checks on cots or servicing prams.
“People packing gift packs and popping together order requests from our extensive warehouse of stock. Case workers call in to collect the orders, but we also run a mobile service for the nothern region right up to Echuca,” Glenda said.
In 2025 alone, the organisation had the pleasure of assisting 3,015 children with essential items worth $767,361 and saved countless thousands of kilograms of quality pre-loved items from landfill.
“We always welcome more friendly faces to join our team of volunteers, but there are lots of other ways people can support us,” she said.
“From donating toys, books, clothing or nappies to contributing a little monetary donation each week or month to help us continue to support local families doing it tough.
“We don’t receive any federal, state or local government funding aside from the occasional grant. So to meet our ongoing expenses, every dollar is so important, and the assistance of organisations such as DON is vital,” Glenda said.
To find out more about how you can volunteer, donate goods or make a financial contribution visit sunshinebendigo.org.au