Local charity Tassie Mums is changing the way it works in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, operating a drive-through donation day at their Taroona headquarters.
The drive-through donation event was the first held by the charity and was hailed as a great success by Tassie Mums volunteers.
Founder and CEO Clair Harris said it was necessary to look at new ways of doing things going forward.
“Like many organisations, our activity practically stopped in mid-March as coronavirus arrived in Tasmania,” said Ms Harris.
“But the demand for our services hasn’t stopped.
“There are still families who haven’t got clothes and shoes for their children, nappies and essential baby equipment.
“In March and April, while we worked with a skeleton staff, we sent out over 200 bundles to families in need right around the state.
“The bundles included clothing, toiletries, toys and nappies, as well as two cots, a bassinet and a car seat.”
Ms Harris said normally Tassie Mums would have a network of volunteers hosting donation points across the state, but with restrictions for COVID-19, they had to re-think how to receive the much-needed donations.
“At our first drive-through donation day, we had 24 people register a time to drive past our HQ at Taroona, where our volunteers retrieved the donations from the car boot, before people drove on,” Ms Harris explained.
“It was a great success.
“We were starting to run low on stock and we now have a heap of new donations.
“Thank you to everyone who has been saving their donations for us and made the time to drop by.”
Ms Harris said that going forward, Tassie Mums has new plans in place to ensure a safe workspace for volunteers and visitors.
“We have a COVID Safe work plan for Tassie Mums and I’m certain many of the measures we are putting in place will change the way we work in the long term,” Ms Harris commented.
Tassie Mums works with social service organisations to rehome quality children’s clothes and essential baby items to children and families in need.
For more information on how to donate or volunteer, visit www.tassiemums.org or find visit their facebook page.
Pictured above: Tassie Mums CEO and founder CEO Clair Harris said it was necessary to for the charity look at new ways of doing things going forward after impacts of the coronavirus practically stopped operations in mid-March, leading to the creation of a drive-through donation event to replenish their stocks of clothing, shoes, toiletries, toys and nappies among other items essential to families. (PS)
Tassie Mums CEO and founder Clair Harris accepts some donations from volunteer Laura Brothers during the donation drive-through held in Taroona recently. (PS)
