Congratulations to our Member of the Month for October, Dr Steve Burroughs Foundation! Dr Steve Burroughs Foundation aims to provide support to improve the social and economic wellbeing of Indigenous Australians in remote communities. This month, we heard from Dr Steve himself on the incredible work of the organisation and how they utilise Good360 donations to uplift Indigenous communities.
When did Dr Steve Burroughs Foundation join Good360?
We joined Good360 in October 2022.
What programs do you use your Good360 donations for? Who does the program serve? How does it impact Australians in need?
We have a program set up via our contacts in regional and remote Australia to provide any needed items to any community that we can support. Sometimes those handouts are at Christmas or NAIDOC Week celebrations, or we just roll in the community and work with the local Land Council, Aboriginal Medical Service, Working Parties or whatever organisation asked us to help.
Thanks to Good360’s support, we have a source of products to choose from so we can support the people in the community, town camps, outstations and bush camps. Many of our people are still suffering from the past floods or bushfires and having us in town offering clothing, toys, toiletries and other items makes them feel like someone does care about them and they are not forgotten.
What is your favourite moment/interaction that you have had with a client when utilising the Good360 product?
Every time we set up our marquee or visit an AMD or Land Council or wherever it might be, the people’s faces are filled with appreciation, so it’s hard to pinpoint anyone’s interaction. One example might be recently in Parkes where we celebrated a postponed NAIDOC Celebration Day. One of the locals from the nearby town of Peak Hill came up to me, shook my hand and said she wanted to say “Hi and “Thanks again” for all that we do for Aboriginal people in regional and remote Australia. She said the people in Peak Hill are still talking about our Christmas giving last year.
Last Christmas, we handed out 145 Santa Sacks filled with toys and other items for the children, ranging from infants up to children aged sixteen; some of those items were from Good360. It is a great feeling knowing that Good360 is there for us so we can be there for the Aboriginal communities doing it tough.
How does Good360 help your mission?
Our foundation has no grants or funding, and we rely heavily on donations from corporates and individuals who want to support Aboriginal people. Good360 allows us to use a small amount of money when we receive a donation to purchase items for the communities that we could never afford to buy. Whether it be shaving cream or LEGO, it’s a wonderful support to our mission of helping Aboriginal people in need.
What would happen if Good360 wasn’t here to help?
Our foundation, as mentioned, has no grant funding or government support so buying items cheaply or having items donated is the only way we can carry out our mission. Without Good360, we would have to do without various items for our clients.
What is your favourite donation you have received from Good360? Why?
This is difficult to answer as toiletry items from Good360 are important to us as we give out approximately 600 men’s and women’s toiletry bags per year. In those bags are items of towels, facewashers, socks, as well as shaving cream, razors, brushes and so forth. However, I would say if I had to choose one item it would be the LEGO or the Nike shoes. In some of the places we have been a few of the children have never had shoes, or those that do their shoes are completely worn out and need replacing. The smile on the parents’ faces and the children is a wonderful sight. As for LEGO, to see the children sitting and waiting patiently in front of our marquee for the LEGO is priceless or just walking around and calling children to you and handing them a box of LEGO – yes, priceless.
How many lives have you impacted through Good360’s donations?
Over 5000.
To learn more about Dr Steve Burroughs Foundation, check out their website, Facebook and LinkedIn, or read their touching impact stories.
