FOR A GOOD CAUSE
Formany, the holiday season is full of joy and happiness. But for those experiencing homelessness the holidays are a painful reminder of their hardship. People in the homeless community often don’t receive gifts or even acknowledgment during a time when many others are celebrating and surrounded by love.
This is why The Good Box have launched special holiday boxes.
Each box has special holiday-themed packaging to foster a festive spirit while the boxes contain essential items as well as holidaycentric additions, such as sunscreen. The boxes also include a handwritten note from volunteers, establishing a path of communication with a population that is often isolated.
The Good Box, a charity and social enterprise, is run by two young women - former Townsvillian Gali Blacher and Madelyn Jones, who quit their full-time corporate jobs to help those experiencing homelessness.
These young women are asking for the community’s help to remind those experiencing homelessness of their value this upcoming holiday season.
Gali said the most demand for boxes comes from Townsville and Cairns with a waitlist of 15 charities at the moment - more than half from Far North Queensland.
“We have 10 to 12 charity partners receiving our Good Boxes in Townsville for Christmas,” Gali said. “We also have a community partnership with Brothers Leagues Townsville. They sponsor 120 boxes a month.”
Recently Gali and Madelyn were named as finalists for the Queensland Young Australian on the Year.
Although the winner of the Queensland Young Australian of the Year went to Talei Elu - a community organiser from the Torres Strait Islander community of Seisia in Cape York - the pair is 100 per cent focused on helping the homeless.
The Good Box havel also launched Youbeauty Boxes, which are gifted to survivors of domestic violence who are experiencing homelessness.
These boxes aim to restore dignity and hope for people who have experienced hardship.
“There are 116,000 people experiencing homelessness in Australia on any given day.
“It is so restorative and vital for positive mental health that these vulnerable Australians are not forgotten and still receive a beautiful gift just as the rest of Australia does during the holidays,” Gali said.
“Those who receive the boxes are so grateful and feel inspired to push through difficult nights after having been reminded of their value as people. Knowing that others care about them is so important for those experiencing homelessness if they are to have the determination to overcome their hardships.
Madelyn said there are many misconceptions that prevent people from helping the homeless community.
“The Good Box tries to break these barriers and open up meaningful conversations,” she said. “In 2016, the Specialist Homeless Services Agency identified over 116,000 individuals experiencing homelessness.
“From this figure 93 per cent find themselves with unstable housing, couch surfing and other forms of homelessness that are hidden from public view.”
The Good Box aims to distribute an astounding 3000 Good Boxes this holiday season across Australia through charities such as Mission Australia, St John’s Crisis Centre, Orange Sky Australia and many more.
But this won’t be possible without the help of the public.
Knowing that others care about them is so important for those experiencing homelessness
Donations made via the website thegoodbox.com.au will help The Good Box support those in need this holiday season.