Bear Cottage and Caring Kids
Bear Cottage is the only dedicated children’s hospice in NSW and is part of the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network. Bear Cottage has recently undergone renovations and had a number of new toys that were surplus to requirements. The Peninsula Senior Citizens Toy Repair Group were fortunate to be the beneficiaries of some of these toys.
The Toy Repair Group have now passed the toys on to a charity called Caring Kids, which is supported by Lions Clubs Australia. Caring Kids creates toy boxes, or as they like to call them, “Joy Boxes”, for children across Australia who have caring responsibilities for a family member living with a disability or chronic illness.
Joy Boxes are packed full of brand-new toys, games, school stationery and sporting equipment, providing children with something special to call their own.
The Toy Group are delighted to be able to donate and support such a worthy charity, helping to give these toys a wonderful new life and bring some joy to children and families who need it most.
A Few More Toys to Share
Along with the new toys (pictured above), the Toy Repair Group also donated 150 brand-new soft toys. We had 10 boxes of rabbits in various sizes, which we believe were originally imported for Easter and left as surplus stock. Rather than seeing these lovely toys go to waste, the Toy Group were delighted to give them a new home where they can bring plenty of joy to children across Australia.
Hillview Community
We recently welcomed a group of volunteers from the Hillview Op Shop, who joined us for morning tea before loading up their truck, cars and trailers and heading back up the coast.
The Hillview community is located in Morisset. Hillview Community Ltd and is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to supporting individuals and families in their community who are doing it tough. Their focus is on providing practical help, connection and opportunities for people to rebuild and thrive.
Hillview’s mission is to uplift people experiencing poverty and hardship through a social enterprise based on Christian values of love and compassion. They provide food programs, access to social services, mental health support, education and development opportunities, as well as emergency relief.
Friends of Soibada – Timor-Leste
We also received a lovely email from Kerry from Friends of Soibada, following their very successful visit to Soibada in Timor-Leste in July 2026.
The group selected a wonderful range of educational items from the Peninsula Senior Citizens Toy Repair Group to take with them in their bags and they were a huge hit! The group was able to hand out the items soon after arriving and see first-hand how wonderful well they were received (see photos below).
The remaining donated items will be sent in a shipping container next month. Judging by the wonderful reception to the items already shipped over, we know everything you have donated at Kimbriki will be very gratefully received.
Please see the photos below for a glimpse of the visit and the educational resources making their way to the children of Soibada.
