Small packs bring big comfort to children in care

Komatsu Australia employee Diana Marin has helped provide comfort and practical support to children entering out-of-home care after directing a Live Your Dream (LYD) donation to the MyPack initiative, delivered by Adopt Change.

The Live Your Dream program helps Komatsu employees support charities and community organisations that are important to them through a $10,000 grant.

MyPack provides children entering out-of-home care with a backpack containing everyday essentials and comfort items, helping to provide reassurance during what is often a traumatic and uncertain time.

The donation allowed Adopt Change to purchase the items before hosting a volunteer packing day, where Diana was joined by fellow Komatsu employees to assemble the backpacks.

Together, the team packed 75 backpacks, each carefully matched to a child's age and gender and filled with essentials including pyjamas, underwear, toothbrushes and toothpaste, as well as comfort items such as handmade knitted blankets, colouring books, coloured pencils and toys.

Diana says she was inspired to take part in the LYD program to bring a little light and comfort to children during one of their most vulnerable times.

"We often hear that we can't change the whole world, but we can change someone's world through small acts of kindness. Knowing that a gesture like this could help a child feel safe, valued and remembered made this experience incredibly meaningful."

Nearly 45,000 children in Australia are currently living in out-of-home care, with around 11,000 children entering care each year. Many arrive with little more than the clothes they are wearing, making initiatives such as MyPack so important.

The $10,000 donation will help Adopt Change to continue to purchase materials and prepare additional MyPack backpacks well past the 75 that were assembled.

"I wanted to support this incredible organisation as I can’t image the fear and uncertainty these children must feel," Diana says.

"I know a backpack can't take away their pain, but if it can provide a little comfort, make them feel cared for, or help them feel a little less alone during such a difficult time. That makes it worth every effort."