SPREADING THE CHEER ON CHRISTMAS
NICU Cheer collect gifts and donations to share with mums and bubs who’re stuck in intensive care over the holidays.
NICU Cheer is a passion project started by Maddie Francis, who encountered many struggles as a new mum with a premature baby in intensive care. So each year, NICU Cheer volunteers come together and pack over 1000 gift bags for mothers, filled to the brim with goodies from luxury Aussie brands.
“Delivering these bags full of treats is our way to give back to the hospital, and the staff, who saved our son. It’s our way to pay it forward, hopefully bringing some cheer to others. We know what it's like to be them, and if we cheer up just one parent, just a little bit, we’ve accomplished our mission”, says Maddie.
The NICU Cheer volunteers stop by the hospital several times a year on special occasions like Mothers Day, Fathers Day, Easter Weekend and Christmas Day with the gift bags. This is where we came in, as NICU Cheer used their Local Matters grant to help purchase treats for the Christmas Day gift bags:
“The Local Matters grant helped us put even more items into our gift bags. These were donated to 250 families across Melbourne who had to visit their bubs in intensive care on Christmas Day 2020.”
What a great way to combine community, Christmas, and an incredible cause. We’re so happy we could bring them together on such a special day.
“Local Matters helped us feel even more connected to our community. We won for our month, and it was such a feeling of elation and inclusion.”