Mother’s Day is an opportunity to acknowledge the amazing role women play in their families as a Mother. Today some Mum’s will be spending their special day in hospital alongside their ‘tiny spark’. To bring some joy in what is such a challenging time we have sent out more than 200 gifts around the state for those Mum’s spending Mother’s Day in a Neonatal Unit. Each envelope contains a quantity of sunflower seeds with the sentiment, ‘We can bloom together’. This recognises that Mum’s continue to grow and flourish, just like their children. For many Mother’s this will be their very first Mother’s Day and we really hope that our small gift brings some joy and brightness. Happy Mother’s Day to Mum’s everywhere from the team at Tiny Sparks WA.
We can’t do it without you
This past week we were contact by a family with a truly heartbreaking story. We can’t share their story with you, but they did pose a question we can share. ‘What would it take to ensure every family admitted to a Neonatal Unit receives a Care Package in WA each year?’
Each year around 4,500 babies are admitted to Neonatal Units in WA. To fund a Care Package for each of these families we need to raise $180,000 p/a.
We started this program back in 2014 and were delivering just 10 packages per month. The program has grown and grown and we are now delivering just over 100 packages per month but we need to see that number more than triple, so no family goes without!
Please help us, help more WA families by making a tax deductible donation. We can’t do it without you!
Christmas 2020
For many years we have run our annual Christmas Quilt Drive and in spite of COVIDs attempts to derail everything in 2020, humanity prevailed! Many sewing groups ran with this project including the remarkable Get Scrubbed Group and our own Crafty Creators. Since the delivery cut off we have been busy sorting, packing, posting and delivering to 26 hospitals around the state. Our final delivery was made this morning to Bunbury Regional Hospital.
Along with the Christmas quilts, stockings and cards, hospitals also received ‘Baby’s 1st Christmas 2020’ ornaments thanks to the ongoing generous support of local family run business, Foote & Flame.
This year we distributed a staggering 544 gifts for Christmas in maternity, Neonatal and Special Care Nursery beds all over WA! Huge thanks to volunteers Christine H, Elke, Zach and Xavier for generously giving their time to assist with collation and deliveries. To our drop off points Margaret, Jenny, Liesl, Briana, Sandra and Christine L thank you for opening your homes for drop offs. Melinda thank you for hosting the stocking sew along and answering lots of questions. To everyone who coordinated family, friends or an organised sewing group we thank you!
Thanks to you, Christmas in hospital this year will be a special time for so many. Thank you all for helping to make this possible 🙌🏻💜🎄
December Donation Bingo
Each month we will be posting a Bingo, this is a list of items that you can purchase and donate, all of which will be distributed through our programs. We would love for you to complete a row, column or entire Bingo but even one item will go a long way to helping!! You can mail in your item/s or drop them off to one of our collection points. You could also purchase online and have it mailed directly to us. Send us an email admin@tinysparkswa.org.au if you need more info. We truly appreciate your support 🙌🏻💜
That’s a wrap world prematurity day 2020
Each year we work hard to shine a light on the 15 million babies born too soon globally and bring the challenges they face to the forefront of government, health care providers, and the broader communities thoughts. It’s an opportunity for our families to celebrate and honour their journeys.
Whilst our annual Family Fun Day is a highlight it did not go ahead this year. Bringing together a vulnerable group in the community with COVID19 on our minds... it was not a risk we were willing to take.
Working together with WIRF, The West, Channel 9 and two of our lovely families we were delighted to see a print article and news segment run.
Thanks to our Board Secretary Briana many locations lit the night sky purple including Broome Water Tower, Yagan Square, Mount St Bridge, Optus Stadium, Matagarup Bridge, Sky Ribbon, Graham Farmer Freeway Tunnel entrance, Perth Children’s Hospital, King Edward Memorial Hospital, Trafalgar Bridge, St John of God Mount Lawley, Busselton Civic Centre, Mandurah Bridge, SJOG Bunbury and ECU Joondalup. Capturing the magic of these locations we thank volunteers Shannon, Sarah, Noel, Rowena, Nicky and Leisa. Standing in Yagan Square, hearing the running water, bathed in purple light it was surreal!
St John of God Subiaco hosted a lovely morning tea in their Neonatal Unit lounge for current inpatients. This was a lovely opportunity to chat with parents and staff about the services we provide to the hospital and community more broadly.
Our friends at Kalparrin collaborated to host morning tea at Perth Children’s Hospital for inpatients and those with outpatient appointments. Some fascinating discussions were had.
We attended an important meeting with Telethon Kids Institute to discuss exciting plans for projects in 2021. You’ll have to stay tuned for more information on this one!
The avalanche of ‘then and now’ images we were tagged in or shared to our social channels was remarkable. It’s truly inspirational to see just how far all these ‘tiny sparks’ have come. ‘A mighty flame followeth a tiny spark’, could not be more accurate!
The theme this World Prematurity Day was ‘Together for babies born too soon - Caring for the future’. This past week we celebrated our 7th Birthday, since inception we have understood just how important collaborative effort is. We have strong relationships with likeminded organisations who all work together for the benefit of families and children. We are run by volunteer WA families, for WA families and understand the unique challenges faced by those living rural and remote.
Thank you for supporting World Prematurity Day 2020!
#WorldPrematurityDay2020
#togetherforbabiesborntoosoon
#NeonatalNovember
