EUREKA Mums is rallying to collect 50 new and pre-loved children’s car seats to donate to Ballarat families in need.
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Car seats are essential for the safe transportation of infants and children, and yet they are so expensive to buy.
- Erin Malone
The Buckle Up Baby campaign, held over October and November, will help families across Ballarat and outside the city, including Maryborough and Bacchus Marsh.
Welfare organisations and maternal and child health nurses have already started distributing the children’s car seats to families.
Eureka Mums founder Erin Malone said car seats were one of the most common items families asked the not-for-profit organisation for, but there were never enough to go around.
“Car seats are essential for the safe transportation of infants and children, and yet they are so expensive to buy,” Ms Malone said.
She said some mothers did not have a car seat to transport their baby to mother’s group or child health appointments.
“It means mums can get out and get to mum’s group or child health nurses,” Ms Malone said.
She said anyone could donate a car seat or make a financial donation. A grandmother recently donated a car seat after her grandchild grew out of it.
Eureka Mums is calling for car seats suitable for children aged 0 to four. Pre-loved car seats must be less than eight years old and display the Australian/New Zealand Safety Standards AS/NZS 2174 sticker.
For the subsidised price of $80, Eureka Mums can purchase a new car seat from one of its loyal suppliers.
To help prepare the pre-loved car seats for distribution, Tanya Daniels Good Guys donated a washing machine to Eureka Mums.
"We plan on breaking in our brand new washing machine donated by Tanya Daniels from The Good Guys by freshly washing all the car seat covers we receive throughout the campaign,” Ms Malone said.
Tanya Daniels, of The Good Guys Ballarat Joint Venture Partner, said she was pleased to have the opportunity to support Eureka Mums.
“We strongly believe in strengthening our community by supporting essential programs, services and projects at a grassroots level which is why we support local community groups throughout the year,” Ms Daniels said.
Eureka Mums will hold a trivia night on November 20 from 6.30pm at Ballarat Greyhound Racing Club to support the campaign.
To donate to the campaign, email donate@eurekamums.org. For information visit www.eurekamums.org or follow Eureka Mums on Facebook.