This October, we’re celebrating Gateway Family Services as our Member of the Month! Based in the Penrith and Blue Mountains region, Gateway Family Services is making a meaningful difference by supporting vulnerable families and individuals with care, compassion, and dignity. Their story is one of community spirit and impact, made stronger through their partnership with Good360. Keep reading to discover how Gateway Family Services is helping to strengthen families and communities all year round.
When did Gateway Family Services join Good360?
We joined Good360 in February 2021.
What programs do you use your Good360 donations for? Who does the program serve? How does it impact Australians in need?
Our Essentials Emergency Relief Program and Christmas Hamper Program, as well as helping vulnerable members of the community in the Penrith and Blue Mountains LGAs.
- Gives them access to items they might not otherwise be able to afford because they are on low or fixed incomes and experience economic disadvantage.
- Provides comfort and dignity to clients who are given access to necessary hygiene products.
- Provides joy to children at Christmas when they receive high quality toys and gifts from well known brands that their peers also enjoy.
- Provide warmth to clients during the cold winter months thanks to warm clothing and heated blankets.
- Good360’s donations impact Australians in need in a positive way all year round through our emergency relief program, but especially at Christmas time, when we distribute our food and gift hampers to families who are doing it tough.
What is your favourite moment/interaction that you have had with a client when utilising the Good360 product?
One memorable instance involved a client who visited our emergency relief service with support workers from the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ). This client needed assistance with food hampers and clothing for six children who had recently come into her care through emergency foster care. Thanks to the items from Good360, we were able to provide tracksuits and tops to four of the older teenagers. Without the generosity of Good360, we would not have been able to offer this level of support.
How does Good360 help your mission?
Our Essentials Emergency Relief Program and Christmas Hamper Programs do not receive any government funding and rely on community support and donations. Good360 helps us in our mission to support the community by providing us with essential goods and items that we wouldn’t otherwise receive and can not afford to purchase. It helps us in our pursuit of “strengthening families, strengthening communities” by ensuring that vulnerable families and individuals have access to essential items such as hygiene products and clothing, as well as spreading some joy to children and families in our community through the good-quality toys we are able to distribute at Christmas time.
What is your favourite moment/interaction that you have had with a client when utilising the Good360 product?
One memorable instance involved a client who visited our emergency relief service with support workers from the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ). This client needed assistance with food hampers and clothing for six children who had recently come into her care through emergency foster care. Thanks to the items from Good360, we were able to provide tracksuits and tops to four of the older teenagers. Without the generosity of Good360, we would not have been able to offer this level of support.
How does Good360 help your mission?
Our Essentials Emergency Relief Program and Christmas Hamper Programs do not receive any government funding and rely on community support and donations. Good360 helps us in our mission to support the community by providing us with essential goods and items that we wouldn’t otherwise receive and can not afford to purchase. It helps us in our pursuit of “strengthening families, strengthening communities” by ensuring that vulnerable families and individuals have access to essential items such as hygiene products and clothing, as well as spreading some joy to children and families in our community through the good-quality toys we are able to distribute at Christmas time.
What would happen if Good360 weren’t here to help?
Without the support of Good360 we would be very limited in the amount and type of help we could provide to our community.
What is your favourite donation you have received from Good360? Why?
Our favourite products are the LEGO and Duplo we receive, which go out to children with our Christmas Hampers. The feedback we have had from parents is very positive, that they can provide high quality gifts from well-known brands that their children enjoy, the same as their peers receive.
How many lives have you impacted through Good360’s donations?
Each year we estimate that over 1100 lives are impacted through the products we receive from Good360.
To learn more about Gateway Family Services, check out their website, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.
