Leilani and Matt Kaipuke are excited to celebrate their first Christmas with their new baby daughter, Hazel. However, as tempting as it might be to spoil her with a pile of gifts under the tree, they’ve decided instead to donate to families in greater need.
“We feel very blessed to have Hazel, and that’s put other things into perspective,” says Leilani.
“Now that I have a child of my own, when I see another child struggling it pulls at my heartstrings.
“She has been very lucky to have everything that she needs… so we just wanted to help other kids and families.”
Leilani posted about her decision on Facebook and invited others to join them in donating items to the Mums Supporting Families in Need (MSFIN) Christmas Appeal.
Family and friends were inspired by the Kaipuke’s giving spirit and responded generously, dropping off food, toys and toiletries for the charity.
MSFIN is a Mornington Peninsula-based, volunteer-run charity that provides essential items for families in need via local support agencies. They collect and distribute everything from cots and carseats to toys, clothing and toiletries. Many of the charity’s beneficiaries are women fleeing domestic violence, families experiencing financial hardship and foster children.
Each year, the charity collects items for hampers, with volunteers from the public coming together on one day in December to fill the hampers at MSFIN’s Seaford warehouse.
Leilani says helping others at a community level is important as it causes a chain-reaction of service.
“Everyone’s very aware of people in third-world countries that need help, and they always need help, but there are people here that we see all the time that we might not know are struggling.
“When they get help they can then help other people as well.”
Leilani is just one of millions of people across the globe serving others as part of the #LightTheWorld initiative, which encourages people to serve others in their families, communities and throughout the world during December.
Donations for the MSFIN Christmas appeal have closed but will reopen early next year. Visit msfin.org.au to find out more about how you can help.
For more information on how you can #LightTheWorld click here.