A FRANKSTON charity supporting struggling families is still recovering after a devastating storm badly damaged its warehouse last month. Mums Supporting Families In Need offers emergency material aid to local families, distributing clothing, toiletries, and baby items such as car seats and strollers. It works with more than 100 community support agencies across the Frankston, Casey, and Mornington Peninsula local government areas.
MSFIN’s Seaford warehouse was hit by a huge storm in October. The roof of the mezzanine which is used to pack around 5000 Christmas gifts for children caved in, and the floor subsequently flooded. The ceiling of the office area underneath was also damaged.
MSFIN strategy and fundraising manager Charlotte Davies said that the storm caused around $90,000 worth of damage. “We are a long way off being fixed. We are operating at half of our usual warehouse capacity,” she said.
“We are operational again thanks to our incredible team of 35 regular volunteers making do with the space we have. We had $90,000 dollars worth of stock damaged, and more was contaminated due to flood water.”
The charity is still accepting item donations, but its warehouse is at capacity. It is currently storing stock at the Frankston Football Club clubrooms. Davies said that the charity is asking for financial support to rectify the situation. “We had to dispose of stock, and are currently operating out of a shipping container,” Davies said. “We are calling for financial support – we are a tiny not-for-profit, and this has had an enormous financial impact. We are operating on half our space, and calling for donated items is hard because we don’t have space to put it.”
MSFIN runs a program called Hamper of Hope to provide new essential items and support to people fleeing violence. It received some good news this month when it was awarded $20,000 from Commonwealth Bank through its “staff foundation grant” to go towards Hamper of Hope.
In a statement, Commonwealth Bank said the hampers “provide all the basics and essentials women would need once they’re placed in crisis accommodation including cleaning supplies, laundry, and pots and pans.”
To support Mums Supporting Families in Need visit msfin.org.au
First published in the Frankston Times – 19 November 2024