Soroptimists Helen Jennings, Christine Sutton, Helen Bray, The Bridge Youth Service student social worker Camryn Mackenzie, program manager Renee Brophy, advanced practitioner Hayley Rowan, Soroptimists Annette Sleeth, Mary Gilberto and Bernadette Bell.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
A group of Shepparton women are quietly supporting the lives of some of the region’s most vulnerable through a simple but powerful act of kindness – a backpack filled with essentials.
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The Shepparton S1 Soroptimists, a volunteer-based group, now with 32 members, have spent the last four years supporting women experiencing homelessness.
Thirteen of those members are part of the club’s “grey warriors,” meeting once a month and responsible for sourcing, packing and delivering these winter backpack donations.
This year, the group donated 60 backpacks to three local organistions – The Bridge Youth Service, The Salvation Army and Mooroopna Education and Activity Centre, who then distribute them directly to women in need.
Long-time Soroptimist Helen Jennings said these backpacks were filled with items most of us take for granted: winter essentials like scarves and socks, toiletries including toothpaste and deodorant, tableware and a torch.
“They’re packed to the brim,” she said.
Some of the goods inside are purchased through funding from the club or donated by local businesses.
The rest is funded through an annual calendar of community events – high teas, International Women’s Day celebrations, Oak's Day gatherings, cake stalls and their monster garage sale.
The Soroptimists don’t know who receives these backpacks, but Helen remembers meeting a woman at a shop who recognised one of these backpacks she received while living on the streets.
“She told me how much it helped her,” she said.
“It’s moments like that, that remind us why we do this.”
With the need continually growing, the Soroptimists are already planning to increase their current 60 backpacks to 100 next year, and are looking to add sanitary products.
And as winter approaches, they remain committed to ensuring no woman in Shepparton goes without the basic comforts everyone deserves.
Soroptimist Helen Jennings, The Bridge Youth Service program manager Renee Brophy and Soroptimist Bernadette Bell.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
