SI Shepparton Kindness Packed into a Backpack

SI Shepparton has an increasing number of homeless people and a large proportion of them are female and youth. The local community groups do not have enough resources to help everyone in need and are in desperate need from other organisations to assist with donations and goods. Many of the women leave abusive relationships and often leave with no belongings or money.

After consulting with local community hubs SI Shepparton decided to put together 60 backpacks filled with essential items to support women experiencing homelessness. The Health, Human Rights and Status of Women Committee sourced items, purchased 60 backpacks and filled them with winter essentials such as scarves, warm socks, beanies and gloves, toiletries and personal items, a mug, plate, cutlery, and small personal items, a torch, notebook, pens. Some of the goods are donated by local businesses and the remainder purchased from Soroptimist fundraising.

An excerpt from publicity printed in the Shepparton News   “A group of Shepparton women are quietly supporting the lives of some of the region’s most vulnerable through a simple but powerful act of kindness — a backpack filled with essentials.

The Shepparton Soroptimists, a volunteer-based group, now with 32 members, have spent the past four years supporting women experiencing homelessness.

Thirteen of those members are part of the club’s “grey warriors”, meeting once a month and responsible for sourcing, packing and delivering these winter backpack donations.

This year, the group donated 60 backpacks to three local organisations, The Bridge Youth Service, The Salvation Army and Mooroopna Education and Activity Centre, which then distributed them directly to women in need. “