By Shelby Brooks
A Pakenham mother’s little way of spreading hope has grown beyond the confines of her home to a brand new warehouse space.
Have Hope Inc, previously Have a Little Hope, was founded by Bobo Davis after her son suicided in 2016.
For the last seven years, she has run the volunteer community outreach service from her home.
Now, thanks to a donation by Lisa Boyd of Horses for Causes, the organisation now has a new home in Pakenham’s South East Business Park.
“She believed in what we do and wanted to help us move forward,” Ms Davis said.
Ms Davis said it was a great feeling to now have a new larger home for the organisation.
“Now we have this space, we can offer more supports,” she said.
“Food is a support that we do, but we now have the ability and the facility to offer other supports in the future.”
Following her personal tragedy, Ms Davis said she saw a niche gap in the community for people unable to leave their home to seek support.
“This started as an outreach service, we go to families that are broken – grief, trauma, mental health, whatever that looks like for them – that can’t get out in community to get food support,” she said.
“That’s our point of difference – the delivery service for these families that can’t get out to services.
“I started with seven families, now last Friday we did 35.”
The organisation, which now has not-for-profit status, aims to advance community welfare by providing food, goods and emotional support to those who are suffering the effects of suicide, hardship and trauma.
Volunteers assist with relieving people’s immediate distress, mental grief and needs due to their loss and suffering, until they can navigate a more purposeful pathway.
At the new location, the organisation can provide food staples, emotional support and support groups.
They also continue to we bring awareness to the community and tackle the stigma attached to mental health and suicide.
Have Hope Inc will now continue to grow into its new location, volunteer Donna Fromhold said.
“We can expand now. Now we need to look at lots of fundraising to try and keep going,” she said.
“We want to have a lot of hope, not a little.
“We are community funded, we’re run on donations.”
Ms Davis asked anyone interested to register their interest in volunteering.
“There is a call for more than one day, through the week I get calls. I can’t do it alone, I don’t want to do it alone,” she said.
“I need others to help and participate and all come together.”
Anyone seeking help can contact beyondblue on 1300 224 636 or beyondblue.org.au or Lifeline on 13 11 14.
