Large family gets “brushed with kindness”

August 30, 2017

We were happy to connect Habitat for Humanity volunteers taking part in the Brush with Kindness program to a family of 12 living in one of our homes recently to help them rejuvenate their home.

Brush with Kindness is a home beautification program which sees teams of volunteers undertake landscaping and minor improvements to homes of disadvantaged and socially isolated members of the community. On this project ten volunteers spent five hours painting the southern suburbs home and putting together a new bunk bed for some of the children in the family.  The volunteers were teaching staff from Christian Brothers College in Fremantle, while paint for the project was donated by Dulux in Cannington.

Three of the family members joined in to work with the volunteer team, providing their “sweat equity” to the project.  Along the way they also picked up some valuable new patching and painting skills, so that they can continue to work on the areas of the house that were unable to be completed on the day.

Tenant Cas, who is mum to the large, young family said the project has helped her achieve something better for her kids she wouldn’t have been able to manage herself. ““I’m only using three lights in the house, to keep my electricity costs down; Foodbank are really helpful with supporting us with the basics and now I can’t believe all this help with my home.

Habitat for Humanity is an international charitable organisation that looks to provide a “hand-up” rather than a “hand out” to low-income families in need, by providing safe, decent and affordable homes.

“Without our corporate volunteer program and the support of our sponsors, we’d be unable to deliver low-cost programs such as Brush with Kindness to families in need,” said Christine Stanton, Habitat for Humanity WA Executive Director.  “It was great to see the family working alongside our volunteers to help them renovate and restore their home.  They showed real enthusiasm with their tasks and an eagerness to improve their living conditions.

Habitat for Humanity provides a number of opportunities for corporate entities wanting to “give back” to the community. For more information about corporate volunteering opportunities with Habitat for Humanity, please email perth@habitat.org.au or call 0437 736 008.

The team at work