By TOM HAYES
STARTING to spread Christmas cheer is a group of locals who have donated 11 quilts to The Gathering Place, Morwell.
Heading the donation drive was Katie Johnson, who got in contact with The Gathering Place Volunteer Co-ordinator, Emma Saliba.
The Gathering Place is a community based centre in Morwell that provides a space for local individuals and families to come together to learn, share, and celebrate the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture.
The Gathering Place is labelled as an inclusive and culturally safe centre, promoting and supporting self-determination. The centre is run by volunteers who help create a comfortable environment for youth, Elders, workers, and the community.
Ms Johnson said herself and a friend simultaneously decided to produce charity quilts, that were to be donated to women and children suffering from domestic violence.
“We figured, between us we could probably do 60 to 100 per year with five of us,” Ms Johnson said.
“We look at the fundraiser, its another way to get The Gathering Place involved, get them recognised for the work they do, and if there are people out there that don’t know about The Gathering Place it will come about.”
Ms Johnson added that she was looking for people who are either willing to donate fabric, wedding, their time to make quilts, or monetary donations to help provide supplies.
Ms Saliba was happy to take on the donation and forge a partnership with the group of ladies who hope to continue donating quilts.
“These donations will go exactly to what these lovely ladies will want them to go towards… The Gathering Place services anybody and everybody from far and wide,” Ms Saliba said.
“We’re really focusing on women and children escaping domestic violence.
“It means so much, we’ve had so many people come in that are in need and that are in these dire straits, just to have something for a young child – it’s theirs too, they can take it wherever they go, that’s a massive thing.”
Ms Johnson hopes to continue this donation run with The Gathering Place. Visit The Gathering Place at 99 Buckley Street, Morwell to see how you can help.
