In the aftermath of Cyclone Alfred, Queensland has been left to recover from the devastation. As communities rebuild, the need for tangible hope is greater than ever. This brings us to a beautiful story that shows the power of hope in someone’s life.
Last week, a lady visited our Loganholme office. For her privacy, we won’t reveal her name, but for the purpose of her story, let’s call her Sharon. Like so many others, Sharon has had an incredibly tough few weeks. She has three beautiful children, all of whom are autistic, making the change in routine and intensity of the cyclone even harder for them. Sharon herself has a form of leukemia, as does her mother. Her sister tragically passed away from cancer, and her father has struggled with his mental health. In the midst of all of this, she has also been caring for her elderly neighbour throughout the cyclone. Calling Sharon’s journey difficult would be an understatement.
To make matters worse, Sharon lost power for 6 days and all the food in her home. She hadn’t eaten for two days, but in desperation for her children, decided to seek food relief. In a moment of panic, a memory surfaced—20 years ago, she had received free bread from a Lighthouse Care van. That small act of kindness had stayed with her all these years, and in her darkest moment, she knew exactly where to turn.
With the little money she had left, she put fuel in her car and drove to Lighthouse, hoping she could find support. With no way to contact us due to loss of power, she took a chance and visited in person.
Debbie Hill, Lighthouse Care Co-Founder, met with Sharon and was able to support her with a free $25 trolley and two food hampers, through our emergency disaster relief appeal—one for her family and another for her elderly neighbour. That moment 20 years ago wasn’t just a simple act of kindness; it planted a seed of hope that lasted through the years and led her back when she needed it most.
For Sharon to remember Lighthouse Care as a place to turn to in times of need is a beautiful moment that touched our team deeply. We want Lighthouse to be a place of hope, a place with open arms, and a place people can look to as a lighthouse in their darkest days. Stories like Sharon’s remind us why we do what we do. When disaster strikes, we want to be the place people remember—the place where tangible hope is always waiting.
Stories like Sharon’s remind us why we do what we do. Hope isn’t just about a single moment—it’s something that lasts, something that people carry with them through life’s toughest seasons. Because of our incredible supporters, donors, and customers, we are able to continue being a place of hope for families in need. Your generosity makes a real difference, and we are so grateful for every person who helps us keep our doors open. Thank you for being part of the Lighthouse Care community—together, we are making hope last.
In times of crisis, every bit of support counts. We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the Logan City Council for their generous $3,000 grant. Thanks to this support, we’ve been able to provide 200 hampers to families facing hardship after the cyclone. Your contribution plays a vital role in helping us continue our mission of bringing hope and relief to our community.
Lighthouse Care is available to everyone, we invite you to visit one of our locations; We can’t wait to meet you at Loganholme & Hillcrest or shop online for free home delivery for all orders over $100 at lighthousecare.org.au
