McDonalds and the Illawarra community give KidzWish and local children in need a big helping hand

The Helping Hands initiative ran in 10 stores over 10 days in late March and early April and raised $40,000 for the local charity.

Katia and Glenn Dwarte operate three of the stores involved and the other seven were company run stores. All have been involved in the annual KidzWish Christmas Party for 14 years.

The Dwartes, McDonalds’ operations consultant Elder Ornelas and Kim Johnson, of McDonalds Australia, gathered at the Fairy Meadow store on Thursday to say thank you to everyone who gave a helping hand. They described it as a brilliant response.

“And for the funds to stay locally is an absolute bonus for the children here,” Ms Johnson said.

Mr Ornelas said each Illawarra store manager wanted to support their local community.

Mrs Dwarte said it was a real thrill for everyone involved with McDonalds family stores locally to be able to present $40,000 to KidzWish to assist with the development in Flinders.

KidzWish executive director Chris Beaven said all money raised was helping the ‘You Raise Me Up’ campaign for a new KidzWish Place being purpose built to deliver services to more local kids in need. Another $28,000 was raised at a recent KidzWish Bowls Day. 

Mrs Beaven said KidzWish was grateful to everyone who was giving a helping hand.

“In the past 12 months alone more than 500 children were directly supported by weekly programs. KidzWish Place was an essential community resource but we are bursting at the seams for a bigger premises to expand our services further in the region and accommodate all those who are falling through the gaps. I started this charity because all the funds that are raised remain here for the benefit of our local children,” she said.

Donations of more than $1000 to the You Raise Me Up campaign buys a personalised brick on Noah Southall’s Memorial Wall. More information at http://kidzwishfoundation.org.au/you-raise-me-up-campaign.