27/8/05 ..... whether by design or accident 3 lovely fellows turned up at our small farm, on the anniversary of my husband's passing. 5 years of drought, unexpected financial loss, assault on a family member ... left us still finding refuge for those worse off than ourselves. . . it is rare, almost unheard of for us to receive unsolicited gifts. We have not looked for them, but on occasion have wondered how others "come by" tid-bits when we would have welcomed something ourselves. THEN, your fellows turned up. With smiles & goodwill all round, listening but not mournful, chipper in their comments. How can we thank you? We can't! Everything in the box was useful and of a brand we might have bought ourselves. Thank you for this perspective of not only 'giving out' but sometimes being worthy enough to receive a gift as well.
June '05 .....we all get a little carried away that the "people in the city" don't give a darn about us, but it's nice to know we are proved wrong and we can't thank you enough for the wonderful hampers that were personally delivered by your fantastic volunteers.
Responses from Christmas for the Bush '04
..... our drought seems to be getting worse, so we were grateful for your kindness, it is also wonderful to know that someone is thinking of us in the midst of what is really a natural disaster. Thank you for your moral and practical support.
Heartfelt thanks for your hard work and compassion in caring for the "bush". We sincerely wish to also thank those who have volunteered to assist Care Outreach, including the companies, businesses, community groups and individuals. Your efforts have served to bring us happiness and give us strength. Just to know people care has a long lasting and profound impact on our lives.
I am writing this letter with a special thank you ... and those people who donated goods and gifts to make a lot of peoples Christmas's very special. A LITTLE BIT OF THOUGHTFULNESS FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE GOES A LONG WAY.
Thank you ever so much for the wonderful food parcel that we received..... the drought is just never-ending. We have missed out on all that lovely rain, our country is devastating.
Thank you for thinking of the people in our area. We are still experiencing severe drought and have not had any sort of break from it for over 3 and 1/2 years. We appreciated your kind thoughts and although we are a fairly 'tough and resilient mob' we are all feeling the financial and emotional strains of such a long dry period.
We would like to thank Care Outreach very much for bringing Christmas to our home. We have been very touched by your organisations care and we are so very grateful to all who donated. All we can say is THANK YOU. Times of drought are so cruel, mentally, physically and financially, but your thoughtfulness has helped to ease the pain.
FIONA SIMPSON MP QLD,
Member for Maroochydore, Shadow Minister for Transport, Main Rds, Urban Planning and Womens Policy.
I would like to place on record the good work you are doing around Australia..... And congratulate you on another successful trip into Western Qld, distributing Christmas gifts and reaching out to the needy.
CHARLEVILLE & DISTRICT COMMUNITY SUPPORT ASSN. INC
On behalf of the recipients, I would like to express our sincere thanks and gratitude for the hampers and gifts provided by Care Outreach and your sponsors. The Charleville Neighborhood Centre appreciates your donations and would not be able to provide this service without them.
TARA NEIGHBORHOOD CENTRE
TARA & DISTRICT FAMILY SUPPORT COMMITTEE INC.
I would like to express heartfelt thanks for the generous donations of presents for needy families in our district. All families receiving gifts were very grateful, that people unknown to them were willing to give in such a substantial way.
- I would like to thank you for the Christmas hamper that your volunteers delivered to our property. It was a splendid surprise and greatly appreciated.
- Dear Care Outreach, As a Gr 11 student boarding in Brisbane, my trip home to Mitchell for Christmas holidays, I noticed the drought more than ever. Due to the drought the Christmas spirit was really hard to feel this year, nevertheless, we all banded together for a Christmas drink at our Community centre. There, I met the most wonderful 3 people from your organisation. They gave me and my best friend a small and very thoughtful gift. It was such a touching thought to know that people out there really do care and I will always treasure and remember this gift..................
- We would like to sincerely thank you all for the lovely surprise visit from your carers yesterday, bringing us love, friendship, and a wonderful box of goodies for the Christmas season
- to your volunteers, thankyou for the respect and kindness shown to us. Also to the contributing companies please extend our appreciation
- My husband and I were blessed with a visit from a lovely couple today. They were from your "host of volunteers" We were very grateful for the goods and gifts they left for us. But what has touched and warmed our hearts, and will leave happy memories long after the gifts are gone, was the joy this couple got from doing this "Santa run" to help people. They showed us the true spirit of Christmas not in giving the gifts but in giving themselves and their time.
- we were grateful to receive a wonderful hamper and Christmas presents from your organisation. Thank you so much from all us. We certainly enjoyed the groceries and gifts. It is hard to make ends meet here at present and I'm not sure if I can keep waiting for the rain. Your kindness at such a difficult time was so much appreciated.
- The timing was perfect as I had to cook for shearing, so the flour and rice were really appreciated. We were feeling low as neighbors had had rain but we have missed out again so the gesture really lifted our spirits. My husband's family have been here for nearly one hundred years, and this is the first time we have every had to cart water to the house.
