Christmas is meant to be magical — but this year, 835 Victorian children are currently on Our Village’s waiting list for essential items, highlighting the urgent need for support to ensure all children can enjoy comfort, joy and the basics they need.

Our Village has launched its 2025 Festive Appeal, urging the community to come together as demands for support reaches heartbreaking levels. The charity, which already assists more than 20,000 babies and children each year, says the number of families needing help has surged as rising living costs push more households into crisis.

For many struggling families, Christmas won’t look like it does on TV. There may be no gifts, no festive meal and no room in the budget even for essentials. While acknowledging that so many are doing it tough right now, Our Village is asking those who are able, to consider making a monetary donation to help ensure vulnerable children don’t miss out.

What Our Village Provides

Our Village rehomes high-quality essential items for babies and children across Victoria — everything from safe sleeping spaces and clothing bundles to prams, book packs and more. But right now, the need far outweighs the supply.

To show just how far donations can stretch, the charity has outlined the real cost of support:

• $25 – provides a book pack, offering joy and escape for a child
• $59 – supplies a bundle of clothes to last a child a whole year
• $123 – rehomes a pram to give parents and carers freedom
• $201 – provides a safe place for a baby to sleep
• $1070 – finds The Whole Kit and Caboodle, an entire year of essentials for a newborn

Note: Our village does not spend donor funds on raising awareness, ensuring the maximum possible amount of every donation is directed to essential items and practical support for vulnerable babies, children and families. So it’s up to all of us to help get the word out. Please consider sharing on your socials!

No Child Should Miss Out on the Magic of Christmas

Our Village CEO Ruth Holdaway shared a heartfelt reminder of what’s at stake:

“No child should miss out on the magic of Christmas. There are hundreds of babies and children who don’t even have the essentials that most of us take for granted. We urgently need funds to help us deliver safety, dignity and a little festive magic before Christmas.”

Case workers say that even the smallest inclusions — such as a preloved book or a small gift in a pack — can spark moments of pure joy for children navigating trauma, sudden family changes or homelessness.

Anna, case worker partner, explained the realities many families face:

“Usually, when our families are struggling with housing, there’s some level of family violence, mental health challenge, financial difficulties or a lack of social support and connections as well. They’re so overwhelmed by many complex challenges.”

Families Like Krystal’s Need Immediate Help

Krystle*, who unexpectedly became a full-time carer of her 10-year-old niece after her sisters sudden passing, shared her gratitude for our Village’s support.

“We were so lucky to be given a pack with beautiful, high quality pre-loved clothes and shoes and book. My niece had tears in her eyes, it was a magical moment.”

Why Donations Matter Now

With almost 50 requests for help every single day, financial support is urgently needed so volunteers can continue safety checks, sorting, cleaning, packing and delivering essential items to families who have nowhere else to turn.

As Ruth explains, “Every dollar helps turn hardship into hope. This appeal is about restoring dignity, wrapping children in care and letting them know that they are seen and valued and reminding parents and carers they’re not alone.”

How You Can Help

If you’re able to support a child this Christmas, donations can be made at www.ourvillage.org.au

About Our Village

Our Village is an exciting new chapter in the story of three of Victoria’s most loved charities. St Kilda Mums, Geelong Mums and Eureka Mums have joined forces. This move has enabled the organisation to put more resources on the front line to achieve their goals of reaching every Victorian baby and child up to the age of six that needs help, whilst also significantly reducing the waste that ends up in landfill.

The organisation collects donations of pre-loved essential baby and children’s items and works with social workers and maternal and child health nurses to rehome them to babies and children in need.  In 2024, Our Village supported 22,176 babies and children with over 75,780 items valued at more than $8.5M.

*Name changed to protect identity.