With Lighthouse Care’s 10th annual fundraiser, ‘Disco Fever,’ just around the corner, we thought it would be a good opportunity to reflect on all we have accomplished thus far.
In 2013, we held our first fundraising event to raise awareness and extra funds for Lighthouse Care. All proceeds went towards helping families in need, with the event being a fashion parade showcasing and auctioning off clothes and items from our Lighthouse Care op shop that we were operating at the time. We decided to make this an annual event, and by 2018, we had outgrown our auditorium and moved to host our fundraising events at the Logan Entertainment Center.
Our fundraiser has now become a critical event for Lighthouse Care, providing essential funds to support families in need. At the fundraiser, attendees can show their support for this worthy cause while enjoying a fun-filled evening of entertainment, networking, and socializing. All funds raised go directly towards making a difference in the lives of those who need it most.
We want to share some incredible figures and stories with you so you can see the impact for yourself. In order to do this, we took some time with Lighthouse Care founder, Debbie Hill, to ask her some important questions.
You started this fundraiser in 2013, what was your mission then, and has it changed now?
Debbie: “Our goal when we started was to bring hope to families. We saw the need around us and in order to be able to be in a position to continue helping we needed to raise funds and awareness. Today, it’s the same mission on a much larger scale. Bringing hope and love to all in need.”
Last year’s fundraiser was quite the event. Are you able to share how much we were able to raise, and where some of those funds have gone?
Debbie: “We raised around $30,000 and that all went towards our free food & trolley initiative for families in need.”
How will the money raised from this year’s fundraiser be used to support Lighthouse Care’s mission?
Debbie: “All the money raised is going towards our free food & trolley initiative for families who are struggling. It’s amazing to see how this food brings so much love and hope to people who are going through tough times.”
Could you explain this free food initiative for those who may not know about it?
Debbie: “Our free trolley initiative allows us to provide free food to those in need. We’re grateful to have the support of our partners who help make this happen. Because of their contributions, we are in a position where we can hand out free $25 trolleys to people in need. We are also able to pick out extra groceries from our store and from the community pantry that our friends at Hyperdome Shopping Centre have generously set up. We’re continually grateful for our partners’ support, and we couldn’t do it without them.”
What have been some of the most rewarding experiences you’ve had over the years?
Debbie: “Being able to help people in their time of need is the most rewarding. Thanks to the support of people in our community we are in a position where we can help.
I met this lovely family of five a few days ago who were experiencing homelessness and came to us for help. We were able to give them a free $25 trolley and took them around our store so they could choose some extra groceries and personal care items. I was planning on paying for these items myself, but then this wonderful lady who was shopping at our store came over and offered to pay for everything. It was such a heartwarming moment to see someone who understands the struggle of being in need pay it forward like that.”
At our fundraiser in 2022, we heard an incredible story from Adrian and Felicity. To sum it up quickly, they are a family of seven who desperately needed our help. Adrian and Felicity were working multiple jobs to make enough money to pay their bills and raise their kids. However, with the rising cost of living, they were struggling to make ends meet. We were able to support them with all their grocery needs. It’s an incredibly moving story that we would encourage you to watch here: https://youtu.be/kPyGZz_QXtY?t=375
We are almost one year on from Adrian and Felicity’s story being shared. How are they going today?
Debbie: “Oh, they’re doing so much better now! It’s amazing to see how far they’ve come. A year ago they were really struggling – they needed to move out of their rental and were having a tough time making ends meet. We were able to give them free trolleys each week to help them out. They are doing great now! They’ve moved into a new rental that they can afford, and they’re actually franchise owners of a mowing and gardening company. Plus, they come in and shop at Lighthouse Care regularly!”
Each year, we host around 200-350 people at our fundraiser from all walks of life. Can you tell us about these people?
Debbie: “Yes! Each year that figure is growing! We are so grateful for all the support from our partners! We have a mix of people who attend, like business owners, corporate sponsors, and even some families who have been sponsored to come out and enjoy a special night.”
It’s hard work pulling off these ambitious events and we see you push yourself each year to make it happen. Can you share what your motivation is?
Debbie: “Our motivation has always been people. There are always more families in need. It’s the stories of those who are struggling to make ends meet that keeps us determined to keep going. Our mission is to help as many families as we can get back on their feet and provide them with the support they need.”
What would you say to those considering attending this year’s fundraiser?
Debbie: “Oh If they’re even considering attending and giving back to the community, I’d be over the moon! It would mean everything to us. The reality is that there are so many families out there who are struggling to make ends meet, and with the current rental crisis, the need is greater than ever. So, if they have the ability to attend, we would be eternally grateful for their support.”
This year’s fundraiser; ‘Disco Fever’ is on June 3rd at 6pm and we hope to have you join us. For more information and to book your tickets; https://lighthousecare.org.au/disco/
Click here to watch some highlights from our 2022 fundraiser.
