With the wellbeing and happiness of vulnerable older Victorians at the heart of Royal Freemasons’ mission, we were delighted to launch the Clothed with Compassion Appeal in late May, raising funds to provide new clothing for those in our care facing hardship and social isolation.
In our residential aged care homes, this need is especially clear with a number of residents experiencing financial difficulty and living with little or no family support.
This means there is often no one available to help them replace clothing as it wears out — something that can happen more quickly in aged care environments due to the high temperatures used in laundering.
While these residents manage with the clothing they have, they often need new essential items — and they need our help.
Through the Clothed with Compassion Appeal, we reached out to the Royal Freemasons community and beyond and were overwhelmed by the generosity of many caring donors, who helped us raise more than $10,000 for the 39 residents in our care who needed new clothes.
As a result, these residents have been lovingly gifted with a wide range of new items, including jackets, trousers, dresses, underwear, socks and pyjamas.
Since the appeal closed at the end of June, staff have taken many of the residents shopping for their new clothes — and the positive impact has been undeniable. These new items have brought them comfort, dignity and a renewed sense of care.
“The residents are so excited about their new clothes,” says Lifestyle Coordinator, Imelda. “We got so much satisfaction seeing them light up with genuine joy when we were buying them. Something as simple as new clothing has made them really, really happy.”
We are deeply grateful for the generosity of our donors. Through this simple act of care, these residents have been reminded that they are part of a compassionate community — a family — that genuinely supports and cares for them.
