A helping hand for the helping hand

Buderim Foundation's Charlie Morris, SunnyKids CEO Kathleen Hope and Buderim Foundation chairman Rod McKinnon. Pictures: Ross Eason

The Buderim Foundation Thompson Charitable Fund has thrown its support behind SunnyKids, a group which supports vulnerable Sunshine Coast families.

The foundation chair Rod McKinnon has provided a $65,800 grant to help SunnyKids continue their work providing vital support for Sunshine Coast families in need of a helping hand on the Sunshine Coast.

“The Buderim Foundation’s Thompson Charitable Fund is proud to support SunnyKids and the work they do in providing emergency food, accommodation and other support,” Rod McKinnon said.

SunnyKids CEO Kathleen Hope said SunnyKids provides connections and support for vulnerable Sunshine Coast families focusing on providing complex case management, including long-term

capacity-building and emotional support.

“We seek to assist families and individuals in some of the worst situations imaginable. Families arrive at SunnyKids hoping to access clothing, medicine, food or things like car registration which in turn allows them to focus less on transportation and more time on other vital family needs like getting the kids to school, doctors’ appointments, and getting to and from work,” Ms Hope said.

“This grant from the Buderim Foundation’s Thompson Charitable Fund is fantastic and will allow us to provide more immediate relief to alleviate economic and housing stresses experienced by our clients.

“Last year, SunnyKids experienced more requests for support than ever before. We were able to help almost 2500 vulnerable individuals within families.

“Unfortunately, our waiting list continues to grow. These funds allow us to provide support to even more families in our pursuit to end hardship right here on the Sunshine Coast,” Ms Hope added.

The Buderim Foundation has been the Trustee for the Thompson Charitable Fund since April 2021.

Over the past two years, a rolling grants program has provided over $460,000 to support people experiencing homelessness and financial distress on the Sunshine Coast.

The Buderim Foundation is a philanthropic organisation which harnesses the power of giving by generating income from donations and bequests and providing grants for worthwhile community

projects.

In addition to the Thompson Charitable Fund, the Buderim Foundation runs a separate community grants program supporting projects benefiting the local Buderim area.

To find out more about the Buderim Foundation Thompson Charitable Fund visit buderimfoundation.org.au/grants/the-buderim-foundation-thompson-fund/

For more information about SunnyKids, visit sunnykids.org.au/ and for more information about the Buderim Foundation visit buderimfoundation.org.au