CentacareCQ’s School Savvy program is back for another year and the organisation is calling on the community to make donations to prepare for January 2022.
Providing essential back-to-school items at low-cost, and basic haircuts for free, School Savvy offers children and families an alternative to beginning the school year without the resources that they so desperately need.
CentacareCQ General Manager, Shari Jackson, has been running School Savvy CQ in the Bundaberg region for the past two years.
Shari says that although putting School Savvy together each year is a mammoth task, the reward of knowing that that program is directly helping kids and families in need makes it worthwhile.
“Just recently I was out in the local community, and a lady came up to me because she recognised me from last year’s School Savvy,” Shari said.
“This lady took the time to seek me out and tell me how incredibly helpful the School Savvy program was for her and her family last year, and how grateful she was to be able to send her kids back to school with dignity.
“Hearing those stories are what really bring home for us why School Savvy is so needed within our community.
“Those stories are the reason that we do what we do.”
School Savvy CQ calls on donations of second-hand school uniforms from the community, and financial sponsorship from local businesses, to make the program available to local residents each year.
“Our pop-up shops for people needing to purchase these back-to-school items start opening their doors on January 10, 2022,” Shari said.
“But the work of preparing for School Savvy starts for us long before we open those doors, and we are really in the think of that stage now.
“We’re actively encouraging the community to donate school uniforms.”
Shari says that raising awareness about the School Savvy CQ program is also a great way to jump on board and help at a community level.
“We run a popular colouring competition for school kids each year, which is a great way to help us spread the word and get School Savvy and what we do out there,” Shari said.
“Copies of the colouring competition can be downloaded from our website, and winners will be judged and announced the week of our pop-up shops in January.
“We have some great prizes on offer this year, so I would encourage everyone to get involved and send in a submission.”
School Savvy CQ pop-up shops will be opening across Bundaberg, Gin Gin and Childers from January 10, 2022.
Donations can be made at Hinkler Central, Stockland Shopping Centre and the Centacare CQ Bundaberg office at 79 Woongarra Street with more locations to be shared via the Facebook page.
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