The organisation collects and redistributes pre-loved nursery goods to families in need of everyday essentials. 

Eureka Mums operations manager Trinsa Lewis said she had 20 people on the wait list for cots, while the organisation was also in need of car seats and prams for babies born or about to be born between now and January. 

For comparison, 100 cots were received by families in the past financial year. 

“I have never had that many on my list here in the five years I have been involved,” Ms Lewis said.

Just last week the organisation was called upon to provide assistance to a mother living in refuge, having fled a violent relationship. 

With a baby due in late December, the mother is in desperate need of help and fearful for her child’s future.

These circumstances are not uncommon with an increase in family violence during the Christmas period.

“We support families experiencing domestic violence, single parents, families that are sharing a house with other families and multiple children,” Ms Lewis said.

Christmas is an especially hard time of year for low-income families, which often have to forgo presents for the necessities. Even at other times of the year decisions are being made between furniture, food and power bills.

Ballarat’s Eureka Mums in the past financial year ​

The big items critical to children’s safety can be the most expensive, while emergency nursery equipment can be scarce over Christmas.

“Car seats, cots and prams when you have a new baby could cost you a couple of thousand dollars to buy those things new or a thousand odd to buy them second hand,” Ms Lewis said. 

“They are the things we constantly need but don’t get enough donated from the public to be able to assist.” 

But financial donations will be able to help Eureka Mums purchase new equipment and spare parts quickly to make up the shortfall. 

“It’s amazing the difference these donations, both financial and material aid, makes to the families that we support,” Ms Lewis said.

“For a lot of our volunteers it is an eye opener.”

Donations can be made at eurekamums.org or by visiting the warehouse at the corner of Spencer and Gray streets in Sebastopol. This week the warehouse is open to collect donations on Thursday and Saturday between 11am-12pm.