This year SunnyKids are asking the Sunshine Coast community to consider what Christmas may look like for a child impacted by domestic and family violence and support the Sunny Christmas for Kids Appeal 2023.
SunnyKids operates two domestic violence counselling services in the Noosa region.
The team will also be based at Noosa Civic over the Christmas period collecting toys for children in need as well selling our SunnyKids Christmas Baubles.
SunnyKids chief executive officer Kathleen Hope said, “For many of the children and families in our care, Christmas isn’t filled with joy and delicious food and an abundance of gifts.“
“In fact, for many of these children, Christmas is a time of heightened awareness of the presents they will not receive and the obvious breakdowns that are occurring within their own family situation.
“Sadly, for many of the children we care for, Christmas highlights all that they do not have and amplifies the mess, the noise and the chaos. For many of the children we care for, Christmas is a period painted with comparisons. A stark reminder of what they don’t have. A day of the year that’s never joyous. Just another day.”
SunnyKids are asking the Sunshine Coast Community to consider Christmas from a different lens this year.
“With 500 reported incidents of domestic and family violence each day in Queensland, it’s very clear we’ve reached a crisis point,” Kathleen said.
“What Christmas looks like for you, and I is vastly different for these children. It’s complex, it’s messy and it’s completely out of their control. These children are trapped in a cycle of abuse and trauma and Christmas is just another day of the year.”
“We know that to break cycles of violence and help children overcome adversity, we need to support them for as long as they need, band-aids can only do so much.“
Each day SunnyKids are confronted with some of the most heartbreaking stories of abuse and trauma and they work tirelessly to provide a social and emotional safety net for thousands of children and their families on the Sunshine Coast.
“Demand for our services continues to grow each year and we’re calling on the Sunshine Coast Community to get behind our Christmas Appeal and sponsor a child impacted by the devastating and long-lasting impacts of domestic and family violence,” Kathleen said.
“There are in fact no words to describe what these children witness and experience. They are scared, they are confused and their life is often in danger.“
SunnyKids knows that through planning for tomorrow and the year ahead, they’ll be able to provide these children with the care they need to pave a much brighter future. They’ll make sure these children receive Christmas presents and Christmas food, but they’ll also ensure that they are supported for the year ahead.
With your support, they’ll be able to plan for 2024 with adequate resources so that each and every child that they see receives the wraparound support they need.
“The Christmas period is one of the most dangerous times of the year for many of these children and their families, with rates of domestic and family violence increasing during the festive season,” Kathleen said.
“During the Christmas break, we’ll be inundated with calls and referrals for children and families desperate to flee violence and abuse. We know that once we pick up the phone and take these calls, each child and their family will need our help for a long time to come.
“While many of us will sit down comfortably to a delicious Christmas meal in a loving and safe environment, these children will face conflict and sadness. With your donation to our Christmas Appeal we can ensure these children receive counselling, medical care, food and clothing, access to school supplies, educational support and expert safety planning to keep them safe and away from harm.”
On Wednesday 22 November SunnyKids launched their annual Christmas Appeal, ‘Sunny Christmas for Kids’.
For as little as $600, or $50 a month you can ensure a child impacted by domestic and family violence receives the support they need.
SunnyKids are asking the community to support their Sunny Christmas for Kids Appeal to help give the gift of a brighter future.
Donate today at sunny-xmas-for-kids-2023.raisely.com/
