Generous support for Horizon House over the holidays

15 Feb 2018

Our Houses were the grateful recipients of gifts, entertainment, monetary and even garden donations during the school break.

St John of God Social Outreach Director Youth and Accommodation Services Ros Fahey said the support Horizon Houses across the country received had helped make the holidays special for our young people.

“The holidays can be a difficult time of year for many of our young people so while we receive generous donations throughout the year, those that we receive over the Christmas period can be especially meaningful,” Ros said.

“They help show our young people that their community cares about and values them and can help them to feel included and less isolated, particularly while they’re on break from their studies.”

In WA, patients and caregivers from St John of God Murdoch Hospital's Cancer Centre donated Christmas gifts to residents, including cookbooks, drawing books, stationery, beach towels, cosmetics, confectionery, toys and sporting goods.

Share the Dignity donated women’s handbags filled with sanitary products and some more expensive items many of our young people would not otherwise be able to afford. Some of the handbags that were large enough that our Young Mother and Baby Program residents were able to use them as nappy bags.

The young women in the Young Mother and Baby Program in WA received generous donations of toiletries, gift packs, baby clothes, blankets, nappies and Coles Myer gift cards from SJG Subiaco Hospital, along with a large chocolate cake.

Geraldton Police Department donated Christmas gifts to their Horizon House after doing a community and in-house collection from local businesses.

Our hospitals in Victoria showed their support of Horizon House through sponsorships and Christmas ‘wishing trees’, where caregivers and patients placed gifts for young people.

Each ward at St John of God Warrnambool Hospital sponsored a Horizon House young person and gave them a gift card for a store of their choice.

St John of God Geelong Hospital donated a gift for each Horizon House resident tailored to the young person’s interests and hobbies. And our East Geelong House received donations from a number of local organisations including movie vouchers from Forms Express, tickets to a local play from GPac, and garden goods from Bunnings, Wallington’s Nursery, Van Loons Nursery and Classic Fireplaces.

St John of God Bendigo and Ballarat Hospitals both had wishing trees, making sure each of the young people in their local Horizon House programs received a gift at Christmas.

Ballarat Caregivers also donated 40 different types of bags filled with toiletries so every young person in their local Horizon House was able to select one that best suited their needs. When new young people join the House, they will be presented with one of these bags filled with essentials as part of their welcome pack.

“On behalf of our young people a very big thank you to all the caregivers, patients and local businesses for their generosity and helping to bring the holiday spirit to life,” Ros said.