MERCURY SERIES - Making A Difference
The Denny Foundation has launched a community engagement vehicle called The Luv Bug.
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It is also the official mascot of the foundation, which helps relieve poverty, advocates for individuals and families, and develops programs enhancing well-being and resilience in children, young people, their families and the community.
It has a mission to engage, support and strengthen "at risk" young people affected by drug and alcohol use, mental illness, social disconnection and poverty.
The Luv Bug was an idea born 18 months ago by TDF director Dr Lauren Purcell with other volunteers and she said it was appropriate it was launched in time for Mental Health Week and had been busy raising awareness and attracting interest from local youth during Mental Health Month.
Dr Purcell said The Luv Bug was more than the foundation's community engagement vehicle and mascot.
"The Luv Bug is a mobile mental and social well-being unit, through which we will both transport and deliver an important youth intervention program," she said.
"The Luv Bug will be engaging disadvantaged and struggling youth - on our streets and in our schools - with programs, information, and support services to be delivered on a variety of issues facing the youth of today."
The Luv Bug is already being used regularly to support The DENNY Foundation's 4Life program, centred on supporting youth and delivering a positive "for life" message to counter the anxiety, depression and suicidal tendencies affecting young people.
"In high schools, we will tackle issues of peer pressure, self-worth, bullying and violence, and depression and self-harm," Dr Purcell said.
"On the streets, we will target the damaging behaviours and mindsets we see in action - addressing sexual health, substance abuse, violence and self-harm.
"We are not seeking to replicate existing services, but rather to fill gaps we have seen in our day-to-day work with local youth.
All the programs we run at The DENNY Foundation are inspired by encounters with people in our community and their real life issues."
Dr Purcell said every program established by TDF was at its heart, a passionate legacy in memory of her brother, Denny Purcell, who succumbed to a long battle with mental health on October 1, 2000.
She said he used to drive around in a red VW Beetle and that was the inspiration for The Luv Bug idea.
Dr Purcell said her brother was also the inspiration for the formation of The DENNY Foundation, established by her parents, John and Margaret Purcell, to bring something positive out of a dark tragedy, and to intervene in the lives of youth and families in similar circumstances.
"In all of its work, the DENNY Foundation aims to inspire and encourage others to believe that there is better to come and that life is in the end a gift," she said.
"Each person is a living gift to the world and life is always worth living.
"When we think back to the times in Denny's life when he didn't have access to appropriate supports and services to assist him in his struggles, we draw inspiration and determination to fill such gaps and make a lasting difference to other young lives in his memory. When Denny was at his happiest in life, he was driving a red VW Beetle around the beaches of the Illawarra.
"Denny would take to the surf to find his inner peace, relaxation, and the joy that would give him strength to carry on another day.
"In Denny's memory, we now have 'The Luv Bug', which we hope will assist us in delivering services to local youth to support them in finding their way in life, too. This is his legacy."
DENNY Foundation ambassador Glenn Saville arrived in The Luv Bug wearing a blue Mohawk when it was used to help hand out food to more than 100 youth earlier this month at McCabe Park.
Business support and tax-deductible donations make a difference to people.
A donation of $15 can buy a "swag" kit for a homeless youth sleeping on the streets giving them warmth, shelter and basic toiletries.
A mere $20 will feed an elderly single for an entire week with nutritious food and $45 will feed an entire family with fruit, vegetables, meat and dairy, to support the nutrition of growing children.
Details can be found at dennyfoundation.org and 100 per cent of giving gets to the people in need.