Bringing a bright Christmas for vulnerable youth

31 Jan 2020

The money received funded many different types of gifts and celebrations across our seven WA Houses and six VIC Houses. 

Each House was able to purchase new decorations and provide an extra-special meal for the young people on Christmas day.

Horizon House VIC State Manager, Susanne Wells said she was appreciative of St John of God Health Care for matching Mineral Resources’ donation to the WA Houses, which created a special Christmas experience which does not always happen for our young people.

“Thanks to the generosity of St John of God Health Care, we were able to provide a special Christmas for our young people in Victoria.

“Christmas should be a joyful time and it was great to able to fill their day with happy memories and a sense belonging and care,” she said.

The donations allowed the Houses to purchase presents for every young person and each of the 17 babies who belong to the young mothers currently engaged with the Horizon House Young Mother and Baby Program in Perth.

“This doesn’t happen to people like us, what a welcomed surprise. This is so awesome beyond words and I am so grateful,” a Horizon House young person said.

After consulting with the young people about what they wanted for Christmas, some of the Houses decided to purchase individual gifts for the young people, and some decided to put the money towards one big gift for the House to share. That’s what Horizon House Geraldton decided to do by purchasing a pool table (picture attached).

Horizon House WA State Manager, Paul Loseby said the Mineral Resources donation brought happiness and joy to young people who usually find Christmas to be a sad and difficult time of year.

“This was the first time some of our young people had experienced opening a present on Christmas morning and those presents were much more substantial than we would have been able to provide without this donation,” Paul said.

“It’s difficult to put into words just how much this donation meant to our young people but it really did create some Christmas magic and we are truly grateful.”