It’s a disturbing statistic but the Hunter’s home to almost 20,000 disadvantaged and vulnerable children.

However, one organisation hoping to alleviate that problem is We Care Connect.

The not-for-profit recently acquired a $70,000 grant from the Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation to set up another headquarters in the region.

“We were very excited to receive it,” CEO Derryck Klarkowski said.

“We’ve been operating on the Central Coast for nearly six years; however, we want to make a move into the Hunter.

“And, this funding gives us that opportunity.”

We Care Connect will use the $70,000 to fund a Hunter-based hub to prepare and distribute tailored support packages for local families living in poverty.

That’s the alarming aspect of this story, according to Mr Klarkowski.

“The Hunter has parallel demographics to the Central Coast, with high degrees of disadvantage, very low socio-economic income levels and extreme pockets of poverty,” he said.

“Sadly, the Central Coast boasts 10,000 impoverished children.

“But, even more troubling is the fact the Hunter has 20,000.

“We’ve got a beautiful program in Wyong – and we want to share that love and support up here.”

Mr Klarkowski admitted poverty was the key factor in the formation of We Care Connect.

“You don’t really see it, because it’s quite an idyllic place, but the Central Coast has this dark side to it,” he said.

“However, when you look at the data available, there’s 10,000 kids living in poverty.

“That’s frightening.

“There’s two things you can do about that.

“You can talk about it or you can do something.

“So, we did something about it.

“What we do is very practical.

“There are children who sit below the poverty line, who are struggling.

“We give them the things that their families can’t afford to provide.

“Basically, we offer them clothing, nappies, bed linen, cots, prams, car seats – a whole range of items.

“What we’re trying to do is address income poverty and fundamentally reverse the day-to-day impact of it.

“For example, let’s say, there’s a child who doesn’t have very good clothes.

“If we give them very good clothes, they’re more likely to go to school and socialise.

“So, it breaks that cycle and builds confidence in the youngster.

“It’s saying ‘just because you’re poor, you’re not second class’.

“And, what we do is reinforce that message.

“Everything we give out, we go through it with a fine tooth comb.

“Our standard is: ‘would you be delighted to receive this?’

“If the answer is ‘yes’, we’re keen to help.

“That’s the strength of our program.”

We Care Connect is volunteer-driven, too, according to Mr Klarkowski, which delivers many advantages.

“We have 50 people on board – that gives us the hands that we need,” he explained.

“But, it also provides plenty of passion and enthusiasm.

“It’s really rewarding to be in the base, hearing the squeals of delight when someone receives something.

“That’s very cool.

“Secondly, we’re supported by an amazing community.

“So many people want to assist us; we’re often asked: ‘How can I?’

“There’s a practical way to do so… if you no longer need that cot because the kids have grown up, give it to us.

“And, we’ll pass it on to a family in need.

“The community provides more than 95% of what we distribute.

“Thirdly, we’ve now partnered up with about 30 case workers.

“So, we’re there for neighbourhood and community centres, family support agencies, schools and student welfare officers.

“What it means is everything we give is part of a total package of care.

“It’s not just a shirt, it’s not just a car seat – it’s professional support that goes with it.”

Now, We Care Connect is keen to spread its wings beyond the Central Coast, with Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and the Lower Hunter set to benefit in the new year.

Mr Klarkowski said it was a vital area to target.

“We have a beautiful community on the Central Coast and we know there’s a beautiful community in the Hunter as well,” he told the Newcastle Weekly.

“We’ve been working up here in a small way.

“However, we now want to establish a completely separate Hunter program.

“We don’t get government funding, so the $70,000 from the Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation will help enormously.

“In 2022, we’re looking for a home.

“So, if there’s anyone out there who has 150-200 square metres of affordable space, we’d love to talk to them.

“Rental is one of our major challenges.

“Then, when we’ve got that sorted out, we’ll look to secure donation partners – places/locations where people can drop off items.

“It could be a MP’s office, a community group; anything.

“We’ll come and pick it up to save time and any inconvenience.

“And, most importantly, we’ll need volunteers to work in our program.

“So, Hunter, here we come.”

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