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⭐️ 📬 You’ve got mail!

Hello CaringKids Team!

Thank you for the beautiful gifts for our kids.

Each one of them really enjoyed opening their boxes and discovering their surprises!

We were overwhelmed by the generosity at the amount of things in the boxes and they were beautifully tailored to each kid individually.

They have been crafting, Lego building, reading and playing games happily for the last week.

The kids have each written a thank you note as well-they are attached.

Thank you for everything!

Jazlyn 😊

🖤💛❤️ National Reconciliation Week (27 May – 3 June 2025)

A time to reflect, listen and learn about our shared histories and cultures, and to explore how we can contribute together to achieve reconciliation in Australia.

This year’s theme, “Bridging Now to Next,” invites all Australians to reflect on our collective story, engage with the present, and commit to building a more united and respectful future. It reminds us that reconciliation is a continuous journey – connecting past, present and future.

As we reflect, it’s important to acknowledge the unique experiences of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander carers.

According to the GENERATION Survey (Edwards et al., 2023), 42% of young people who identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander also reported being a young carer. This highlights the strength of cultural and family responsibilities within communities.

These findings reinforce the importance of recognising, respecting and supporting the caregiving roles many young First Nations people take on.

Let’s continue to work together for meaningful reconciliation.

Ref. Edwards, B., Doery, K., Arnup, J., Chowdhury, I., Edwards, D., & Hillman, K. (2023). GENERATION Survey: Young People, Release 2 (Wave 1-2). https://doi.org/10.26193/YMMO4L

#Reconciliation #NRW2025
#BridgingNowtoNext

Dalton McCoy, founder of Brick McCoy, a business that puts the FUN into LEGO® dropped into the Toy Workshop to deliver LEGO® donations, funded by the Brick Fair door entry gold coin donation collection in support of CaringKids. Dalton met with Andy, CaringKids volunteer to deliver the donations and to see the impact his support will make to young carers. Thank you Dalton! 👏Hosting community Brick Fair Markets across Sydney, Brick McCoy create events that are fun and entertaining for creators of all ages, LEGO® enthusiasts and the general public.

As the colder weather begins to set in, we’ve got the perfect weekend activity below for Sydney-siders!

🥇 A Gold coin donation at the door of every Brick McCoy event funds new LEGO® sets that donated to CaringKids. These sets are placed inside our JOY BOXES! So spread the word and lock these dates in your diary

✋ UPCOMING BRICK FAIR MARKETS

🧱 1. North West Sydney Brick Market
📅 Date: Sunday, 22nd June 2025
🕤 Time: 9:30 AM – 2:30 PM📍 Location: Thornleigh Community Centre
Highlights:
✅ Hundreds of kilos of loose LEGO® bricks
✅ New, used, and retired LEGO® sets
✅ Variety of Minifigures for all ages
✅ Family-friendly fun and creativity

🧱 2. South West Sydney Brick Market
📅 Date: Sunday, 29th June 2025🕤 Time: 9:30 AM – 2:30 PM📍 Location: Narellan Family and Community Centre
Highlights:
✅ Bulk LEGO® brick area to explore
✅ Wide range of new, used, and rare LEGO® sets
✅ Collectible Minifigures, including Star Wars & Disney
Great for builders of all ages

🧱 3. Sydney Brick Market (Inner West)
📅 Date: Saturday, 12th July 2025
🕤 Time: 9:30 AM – 2:30 PM
📍 Location: Concord Community Centre, Gipps Street
Highlights:
✅ Hundreds of kilos of loose LEGO® brick
✅ Massive collection of sets and Minifigures
✅ All-day LEGO® shopping and building fun
✅ Perfect for families, collectors, and fans

#lego®
#internationaldayofplay2025
#youngcarers #spreadthejoy #kindness #caringkids #wearestanlee #lionsaustralia #officeworks #westfieldlocalhero

⭐️ 📬 You’ve got mail!

Dear CaringKids

Thank you for the amazing box of goodies – which definitely brought so much joy!!!!

On a cold day in Melbourne, it was such a nice after school surprise to be delivered right into the arms of a very surprised little boy.

Seeing his face light up with sheer joy fills me with gratitude.

Thank you again for the joy and for making my boy feel very special.

Kind regards
Jade

#youngcarers #caringkids #joybox #spreadthejoy #lionsaustralia #good360 #officeworks #westfieldlocalhero

⭐️ 📫 You’ve got mail!

Dear CaringKids Toy Box Team,

Our family would like to express our heartfelt gratitude for the wonderful toy boxes you provided for our three children, Flora, Benny, and Brian. The joy on their faces when they opened their gifts was truly priceless to us.

What really touched us most was how perfectly each box was tailored to our children’s interests.

Benny has spent countless hours enjoying the Monopoly game, developing his strategic thinking and number skills while having fun.

Brian immediately took his new basketball outside and hasn’t stopped asking me to practice with him since.

Flora has been absolutely engrossed in her books as well.

The children were especially moved by receiving these thoughtful gifts from people they’ve never met before.

As they put it this way, “It’s like getting presents from Santa Claus!” They felt such warmth and gratitude knowing that strangers would care enough to select items specifically for them.

Your generosity has inspired them in a beautiful way. They’ve already told me that when they’re older and able to work, they want to contribute to organisations like yours so they can pass along the same feelings of joy and care to other children they may never meet.

The educational value of these gifts goes beyond just the items themselves, you’ve taught our children about the power of kindness and community. For that lesson alone, we cannot thank you enough.

Please extend our deepest appreciation to all your funders and supporters who make your important work possible. You are making a genuine difference in children’s lives.

With sincere gratitude,

Quan (Mother) and Flora, Benny, and Brian

#youngcarers #spreadthejoy #caringkids

🏆 We are so excited to be the recipients of a Community Bank Clovelly Grant of $5,500 that will support the provision of Joy Boxes to young carers.

Our Joy Boxes are packed with toys, games, school stationery and sports equipment and they bring young carers items they need to play and learn, as well as acknowledge the care they give to their chronically ill or disabled family member.

Clovelly Community Bank have been supporting CaringKids for almost 5 years. Over the years they hosted annual toy drives and a space for us to receive community donations.

Thank you to the CBC Board for recognising young carers facing social isolation and financial hardship. The joy you bring to these children and their families is immeasurable.

CaringKids will be partnering with Benevolent Society – Carer Gateway to identify and support young carers with a Joy Box. If you are a carer or young carer needing support contact Carer Gateway by calling 1800 422 737. Their operating hours are Monday to Friday, from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM local time.

If you require assistance in a language other than English, you can use the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) by calling 131 450. Inform the operator of your preferred language, and they will connect you with an interpreter who can assist in contacting Carer Gateway.

For more information, visit the official website: www.carergateway.gov.au
#spreadthejoy #communitygrant #caringkids #joybox #CarerGateway #benevolentsociety