The Echuca-Murray Country Women’s Association welcomed the Hope in a Suitcase team at a special meeting to celebrate the CWA’s contribution to the cause.
Founded by Rachael Clancy in 2018, Hope in a Suitcase provides children, from newborns to teens, in out-of-home care with a suitcase filled with clothes, toiletries, toys, school supplies, nappies and other items to call their own.
Growing up with foster siblings and becoming a foster parent herself, Ms Clancy noticed many children coming into care with a garbage bag containing a few, if any, belongings.
Hope in a Suitcase looks to support the more than 46,000 children in out-of-home care, giving them a place to start when they enter care.
They have volunteers across the east coast of Australia, and in 2023 provided more than 5000 suitcases.
Echuca-Murray CWA jumped on board ahead of the 2024 Victorian CWA conference, where, instead of raffles, members were encouraged to donate filled suitcases.
“I came along to a meeting and said, ‘maybe we could do that’,” Echuca-Murray CWA secretary Delia Currie said.
“A member came the next month and said, ‘I’ve got the suitcase’. And we said, ‘we’ll give us two months to see what we can fit in the suitcase’.
“As you can see, the suitcase doesn’t even really play a part.”
The group has since donated hundreds of items for the cause, from clothing, pyjamas and nappies in all different sizes, to toys, toiletries, board games, blankets, teddies and anything else Hope in a Suitcase Victorian manager Julie Armstrong asked for.
“We have been blown away by what we’ve seen on that table,” she said.
“Rachael’s vision is to empower children and any child entering out-of-home care (by) giving them a suitcase of their own with brand-new items.
“The (CWA Victoria) state conference gave us 149 cases and bags of items ... we’ve had some generous donations, like yourselves.”
Charity groups across Victoria pass on the cases to children entering out-of-home care, with Anglicare Bendigo being a local provider in the region.
Big W Echuca has shown significant support for the CWA’s initiative, thanks to a happy coincidence in store.
The store has since donated a range of items for the group to pass on to Hope in a Suitcase, which store manager Stacee Thompson was delighted to do.
“I saw this lady pushing a shopping trolley that had all of this clothing in it,” she said.
“We had a conversation, and she explained what she was buying it for, and I said that I really wanted to get involved.
“I’m just really grateful that there’s people like (Hope in a Suitcase) in the world, making a difference.
“We’re very fortunate and lucky that we work for a company that does want to make a difference.”
Donations for Hope in a Suitcase can be given to the Echuca-Murray CWA. For a list of donation items, head to https://www.hiasc.org.au/donation-items/
The group meets at the CWA Hall at 498 High St, Echuca, on the first Tuesday of each month.