By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
An award-winning local mother’s organisation is on a campaign to ensure every baby has a safe cot to sleep in.
The right to a safe to place to sleep is the motivation for Geelong Mums’ latest community initiative – Rise and Shine Baby!
Geelong Mums general manager Kate Kent said having essentials such as a safe cot for their baby to sleep was often financially out of reach for Geelong families in need.
“It means parents are often forced to use unsafe equipment or even go without,” Ms Kent said.
“Rise and Shine Baby is about ensuring families receive the support they need to be able to nurture their child.
“Every month Geelong Mums helps more than 120 local families with emergency relief baby equipment like cots prams, car seats, highchairs, clothing, linen, nappies and toys.
“Of all of the items, cots are one of the most consistently requested.”
Ms Kent said Geelong Mums was finding it difficult to meet the current demand for cots and mattresses for families.
“Sourcing high quality pre-loved cots is tough as they must meet strict Australian standards and often pre-loved cots do not meet these standards due to being too old or in very poor condition.”
Geelong Mums, through its ‘big sister’ St Kilda Mums, has secured a deal with a manufacturer to buy cots for $140, a fraction of the retail price.
The community can support the campaign by making a financial donation, or donating a pre-loved cot if it meets current Australian standards.
“The need in our community is great but our willingness to help is greater and together we can make a big difference in the lives of families with babies and small children in the Geelong region,” Ms Kent said.
The Rise and Shine project aimed to raise funds and collect 150 new cots and inner spring mattresses.
Last week Geelong Mums, along with its sister organisations St Kilda Mums and Eureka Mums, won the 2015 Premier’s Sustainability Award.
The award recognised the recycle, reuse and recycle strategy promoted by the organisations.
“We are thrilled to be recognised for the work we do but, more importantly, we need to be able to keep growing to meet the needs of Victorian families.
“The demand for our service only continues to grow.”
