Icon Water employees participating in the annual charity drive. Photo: Supplied.
For most of us, the holidays are a time for family, fun and celebration, but it is also an opportunity to think about those who are less fortunate in our community.
Kids in Care ACT is a charity that ensures every child in ACT crisis and emergency care over the holiday period receives a gift.
The annual charity drive was started by ACT Policing’s Detective Sergeant John Giles in 2013 after he and his team attended an incident where four small children had been neglected over the holidays. ACT Policing had cause to take custody of the children and secured crisis accommodation for them over the Christmas period.
Detective Sergeant John Giles explains, “It was then we learned that these children were not unique in the ACT and there were many, many children just like them who were in crisis and/or emergency care who did not experience the festive season as most children do, and as all children should”.
In fact, since 2013 there have been a growing number of children in crisis or emergency care that require support during the holiday season. In 2020, Kids in Care ACT is experiencing its most challenging year yet as our community responds to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Members of the Australian Federal Police attending last year’s gift handover. Photo: Supplied.
Support from the community and from sponsors like Icon Water means that Kids in Care can continue to provide presents for the growing number of children in need.
“The relationships we have established have grown and Kids in Care ACT has benefitted from the support” said Detective Sergeant John Giles.
Icon Water has been a hands-on sponsor of Kids in Care ACT since 2016. Icon Water has not only provided support financially, but employees have also participated by donating toys and volunteering at Kids in Care ACT events.
“There were times in late 2016 we doubted we would meet our promise to the growing number of children in the ACT who needed our support at Christmas, but Icon Water was there, not only with corporate support but with invaluable support from their staff who simply embraced what we did and why we did it,” Detective Sergeant John Giles said of the organisation’s relationship with Icon Water.
Kids in Care ACT rely on community support and investment. All donations raised by Kids in Care ACT go directly to purchasing presents for children in need.
Kids in Care have a handful of fundraising activities throughout the year. Photo: Supplied.
“All of us who are involved, or support Kids in Care ACT, equally share the satisfaction on Christmas Day every year … because of us, because of what we do and because of our commitment to the cause, children in the ACT experience Christmas at a time of their lives when they would not otherwise get the opportunity to do so” said Detective Sergeant John Giles.
You can help children in our community this holiday season by donating to Kids in Care.
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