WITH this week (October 16-22) marking Anti-Poverty Week, the Hamilton Evening VIEW Club is hosting a Garage Sale today with all proceeds going towards their Learning for Life Students and the Smith Family charity.

Anti-Poverty Week aims to encourage all Australians to organise or take part in an activity to highlight or overcome issues of poverty and hardship here in Australia or overseas.

The Evening VIEW Club - which stands for the ‘Voice, Interests and Education of Women’ - will host the garage sale between 9am - 12pm at 10 Scoresby Street, Hamilton, with members encouraging the community to give generously.

Currently, the Hamilton Evening VIEW Club help two tertiary students through The Smith Family’s Learning for Life education support program, which provides families with long-term educational, financial, and personal assistance so that children have all the essentials needed to fully participate in their learning.

Hamilton Evening VIEW Club president, Sue Habel, said joining VIEW or supporting a child has never been more important.

“With the rising cost of petrol, groceries, and housing, we are hearing from the charity that families are being forced to make impossible decisions about where they spend their dollars each week, leaving children at risk of missing out on basic school items such as uniforms, books, and devices needed for learning,” she said.

“At a time when children are still dealing with the impacts of COVID-19 and catching up on missed learning, the ripple effect of these added financial pressures at home could set them back even further.

“This is why VIEW is so passionate about supporting the work of The Smith Family because its evidence-based approach helps children experiencing disadvantage to overcome the educational inequality they face.

“They support children for the duration of their education, and this helps them build the confidence and skills needed to create better futures for themselves.”

Across the country, VIEW clubs raised more than $1.1 million last year to support the vital work of The Smith Family and currently sponsor 1550 students on the Learning for Life program.

To find out more about joining VIEW, visit view.org.au and to learn about The Smith Family charity, visit thesmithfamily.com.au