It is the community’s turn to play Santa this year as the WA Rocks group are seeking donations for the Kindness Bag Project.
Local Brookdale mum and WA Rocks admin Cheynae DeLeeuw said the bags were designed to provide joy to families and individuals staying at hospitals during Christmas and Easter.
“We include things like colouring in books, journals, pencils, gel pens, and a comfort item so a teddy bear or a doll made for them, and then some toys so they can play or craft,” Mrs DeLeeuw said.
“For the elderly it might be a little maze book or a Sudoku book, for the young kids that craft item might be something like play-do or painting.”
Mrs DeLeeuw has a child with epilepsy and it’s one of the reasons behind the project, is she understands how difficult it can be when parents or families have to rush to the hospital.
“There was one time when I forgot my shoes because I was in such a rush to get her to the hospital,” she said.
“To know that the nurses can have something to give patients, even just something like a toothbrush that’s their own.
Mrs DeLeeuw said they try deliver the bags on Christmas Day to the hospitals, including Armadale hospital.
“One little boy was admitted to Armadale Hospital last year just before Christmas, and his mum said that he was thrilled with the special gifts he got,” Mrs DeLeeuw said.
“I usually take at least one of my kids with me to deliver them, I think it gives them a sense of community.”
This year the WA Rocks team are trying to focus on getting some items for teenagers.
The group began around 2017, when the founder initiated the act of painting rocks with beautiful colours and leaving positive messages around the state.
It has since grown to include over 40,000 members.
WA Rocks’ big goal for Christmas this year is to hand out 150 bags, after the COVID-19 pandemic restricted what they could do over 2020 and Easter this year.
Mrs DeLeeuw tries to collect some items, and there are two drop off points in Brookdale and Mundijong, to find out more about how to donate email John.cheynae@gmail.com or visit WA Rocks online.
