About Us:
Our organization was started when I was just 16 and still doing home schooling.
While sitting at home one day looking through freecycle,
I noticed the alarming amount of posts from parents who were truly battling
and were happy to receive anything just to take care of their kids.
I started talking to some of the mum's and got to know their situations
and decided I wanted to make a change:
Why couldn't people who no longer needed their items recycle them
by passing it on for a good cause to families that needed them?
I started with a lovely lady who had a young baby and a toddler
and everything in her house had been destroyed by mould
and they didn't have the finances to move,
so we bought with our own money a cot, change table, clothes, etc. and took it through.
She didn't say much and I walked away feeling defeated till
about an hour later when I received a txt saying she was overwhelmed
and in tears as she had never expected a
blessing like that,
and it was right there and then that our organization was born.
We were on and off for a while as I got married and tried to start a family of my own
which proved slightly harder then expected,
and after finally finding out we were pregnant with our son,
losing his twin after being told we had lost him,
and one very long and difficult pregnancy,
that resulted in pre-term labour at 19 weeks,
our miracle hung on and was born at exactly 33 weeks weighing 1.9kgs.
It was then that I expanded to help families with prems.
As a young newly married couple and many months in hospital,
awaiting my sons arrival.
I knew just how hard
and financially straining it could be having a prem.
I was very Blessed to have another 2 miracle babies,
including a heart baby amongst many losses.
Unfortunately I became a single mum in 2019.
But I am so happy to finally be completely up and running,
despite many challenges
and cant wait to touch many more lives.
It is a great honor and Blessing for me,
to be able to help others even when its not always easy.
Being able to pour my heart into these packs
and truly connect with each family is a real privilege.
I am beyond grateful for and looking forward to all the help
from all our wonderful volunteers, sponsors and donors.
We couldn't do it without you!!
Care for Families has been running now for 11 years
and approx. 8 years full time as a registered charity.
I work alongside 9 amazing part time volunteers.
Kayla,
Kayla is my incredible right hand women, she is a huge part of who we are and I am so glad to have her as part of our team!
"Hey I’m Kayla I’m a mumma of two gorgeous girls Sofia and Olivia. I’m currently studying to become a social worker. I’ve always had a passion to help others and pay it forward. I love working for care for families."
Tash,
who works away behind the scenes trying to organize sponsorship's and donations,
while raising young kids of her own and believe me this is no easy task!!
With so many wonderful charities, sponsorship's are scarce and trying to do it with young kids that need constant attention,well let's just say I am sooo thankful Tash has stepped up to help!!
"Hi everyone, I'm Tash I am 24 and live in Patumahoe with my partner Cam and our 2 children Josh and Spencer. I was first introduced to NICU in 2016 when our son Josh was admitted to nicu after his birth. After leaving NICU I had PTSD which drives my passion in helping other nicu families."
Vaishali,
Vaishali runs our Christchurch drop off, she is an amazing mum and we are so grateful for her help getting our charity into the South Island!!
"Hi Everyone, My name is Vaishali
I am a mum of beautiful ex 32 weeker who motivated me to be part of this wonderful group . I love cooking , dressing my angel , learning more about IT."
Debbie,
Debbie, is our West Auckland drop off. She is an AMAZING mum to 3 beautiful kids!! One with high special needs, yet she still gives up her time selflessly to collect, wash and sort clothes to make sure the babies receiving our packs have all the essentials they need!!
Jacki and Sally,
Are our amazing volunteers that do all the hard work behind the scenes. Regularly helping with sorting, cleaning, packing boxes and running markets. As well as taking home copious amounts of work like making up vanity sets or writing cards, so that we can add those special touches to our packs!!
Sally,
A mum to 2 now grown twin boys.
Who comes in and organizes and sorts everything that comes in
and helps do up packs when we are overflowing with orders.
Jacki,
Jacki is mum to 2 girls and along with her husband and both girls they get stuck in and help wherever they can. They do it with so much joy and we just love having them all on board.
Kerri,
Kerri is a mum to 3 Gorgeous babies.
Kerri has faced many huge struggles herself and yet still pours her heart and soul into others. She is a true example of a warrior and her strength and resilience is incredible!! She spends many hours collecting beautiful pieces for our packs and knitting amazing blankets for the babies receiving our packs.
Gaye,
Gaye and her mum are our christmas elves they wrap hundreds, sometimes even thousands of Christmas presents for us every year!!
Gaye also helps us by running our fundraising page.
We have a few companies that have stood by us for the test of time incl.
Brake and Auto Services,
OH Baby,
Small Babies,
Water wipes NZ,
Beanies for Babies
and
Patelena House.
As well as many other amazing companies that donate what they can when they can.
Care for Families is a registered non profit charity
(which means you can claim tax back on your donations)
We do starter packs for families in neonatal units across the country
so they have everything they need to be able to take their babies home
without having to leave their side.
We have now joined with multiples NZ
as every baby requiring neonatal care
or born to a multiple family receives a pack
which is over approx. 5,000 babies a year.
We also do approx. 600 bereavement packs each year
after teaming together with other charities and businesses
to put all our resources together in one place,
so Families don't have to go looking and can know what's available at short notice.
We are also currently doing get through packs
with a few days worth of baby essentials
for Families that cant get to the shops during isolation.
Every pack we do is completely free of charge,
apart from a small donation of $10 toward courier costs.
Our biggest need most often is for
blankets, swaddles, teddies, nappies, wipes and story books for our NICU packs.
How can you help?
During isolation you can PM me for an address to send items to but please make sure they are washed and clean!!
Generally we have an office in Browns Bay that items can be delivered to or dropped off at
Unit 1/23 Bute rd,
Browns Bay, 0632,
Auckland
If we not in the lovely people next door at Brake and auto services can accept on our behalf
and while there if your car needs a tune up they the people to go to!!
Super friendly, honest, reliable and they donate a portion from each WOF to us.
Otherwise we have a Non-Profit,
Care for Families account
03-0123-0524744-000
You don't always realize but the things that seem least important to you can change someone else's life.