A new campaign focused on support and kindness is putting some big smiles on the faces of struggling residents thanks to Hitz FM and local businesses.
Now in its second week, the Hitz Helping Hands initiative has been rolled out through the morning show with Matthew Ambrose and Tracey Sergaicomi.
Trace said Hitz939 teamed up with 32 local businesses to establish a kitty of $20,000 to try to help as many struggling locals as possible.
“How it works is residents are free to nominate someone they know who might be doing it tough and could benefit from a Hitz Helping Hand,” she said.
“We have had over 300 nominations so far and in one week alone we have helped 10 people.”
The Helping Hands have been used for a range of good deeds, including the adoption of a kitten for ten-year-old Tahlia who recently lost her poppy in a motorcycle accident.
“Tahlia's pop had a black cat that had to be rehoused due to it not being able to live with other animals,” Trace said.
“She had not been coping well with the loss of her pop and his cat and had been saving up her money to adopt another from the RSPCA.”
That's when Tahlia received a Helping Hand from Matty and Trace and is now the owner of a beautiful black kitten who is doing very well in its new home.
Trace said another Helping Hand which had really struck a chord with her was from Tristian, who nominated his mum Susan for her selfless work helping cancer patients.
Susan, who was previously diagnosed with breast cancer and had overcome the disease, arranges and pays for cancer packs for other people.
“She is always looking after those less fortunate and wanting to give back as she was one of the lucky ones to get through this awful illness,” Tristian said in his nomination.
“She is a legend in my eyes.”
Through the Helping Hands initiative, Susan was gifted $250 to spend on herself but has decided to use the money to make more cancer packs instead.
The campaign has also gifted local resident Abbie with funds to get her to some important training sessions in the Sunshine Coast.
Abbie is set to train with Australian Netball team Sunshine Coast Lightning with funds from her Helping Hand to go towards her varying travel expenses.
Local businesses throw support behind Helping Hands
Trace said the Helping Hands campaign was such a success due to the many businesses who had offered donations.
“When we went to local businesses to share this concept they were only to happy to be a part of it,” she said.
“The support has been amazing.”
Trace said she felt honoured to be able to deliver the good news to recipients of the Helping Hands.
“There are so many people struggling in our town and as much as we can't take away all their problems, we can try and help them as much as we can,” she said.
“I just love with our job and that we are in a position to do that.”
The Hitz939 Helping Hands campaign runs for five weeks and nominations are still open on the website here.
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