By BRIDGET SCOTT
FOR the average person to see more than 450 people attend the charity event they had organised it would be a thrill, but for Malcolm Wells it was a sad reality.
Malcolm, along with his wife Jenny and children, organised a day in the Cranbourne community called Who Cares? We do.
The event is aimed at the underprivileged population and invites struggling families to come along and receive a meal, select from pre-loved clothes, have a hair-cut and get a medical check.
On Saturday 29 November, families flocked to the Cranbourne Public Hall and within five minutes of doors open, a huge pile of toys was surrounded by a swarm of children.
Still in its early stages, the foundation has had one previous event in June this year and this time numbers doubled.
“It was pretty gratifying to see that many people there, but if nobody came it would mean nobody is doing it tough,” Mr Wells said.
The Cranbourne accountant said the foundation was set up because his family decided to do something for the community which has given so much to them.
“We know times are tough and made the decision to give something back,” he said.
“We handed out black garbage bags to people on arrival and said just fill it.”
“Some people went home with two or three but that was fine.”
Mr Wells, a Cranbourne accountant, said there is very little chance that any of the people who he met over the weekend will come through the doors of his firm.
He said the plan is to run these events twice a year, one during winter and the other just prior to Christmas.
Sixty volunteers joined the Wells family last weekend, one of which was a local photographer that did family portraits for those who came along on the day.
There was also a guest appearance from none other than Santa who handed out presents and got photos with the excited children.
Mr Wells said he met one mother who admitted the toys she collected on the day would make up her children’s Christmas and birthday presents.
The volunteer said most of the visitors find out about his events through support services in the area such as the Cranbourne Salvation Army or the Cranbourne Information Support Service.
Mr Wells thanked members from Cranbourne Rotary who held a barbecue and thanked people for their generosity.
“The day can only be best described as a huge success. Happy smiling faces on families including the kids,” he said.
