Service 

Artwork: Cara Patane, Year 12, Ridgeway Campus 

Riley Tyebji, Year 10, Ridgeway Campus 

Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to volunteer with Big Group Hug, a Victorian charity that assists vulnerable children and families in crisis. It was an eye-opening experience and showed me how much of a difference small actions of kindness can truly make. 

Big Group Hug is a not-for-profit charity that provides essential items such as clothing, nappies, toys, books and bedding to disadvantaged families. The families are generally referred by social workers, maternal health nurses and community agencies. Big Group Hug relies completely on public donations and the work of volunteers to sort, pack and deliver these items. Its aim is to make sure that no child misses out on the essentials they require to survive. It is a wonderful illustration of how kindness and community spirit can unite to help those doing it tough. 

When we arrived at the Big Group Hug warehouse, we were welcomed by staff and then divided into smaller groups to help with various tasks. It was incredible to see how organised the operation was. My group sorted donated toiletries, inspected and folded children’s clothing and prepared boxes for packing. Knowing that these items would be in the hands of families in need quickly made the experience extremely rewarding. Volunteering with Big Group Hug was not only a chance to give back but also a reminder of how fortunate many of us are and the importance of supporting others in our community whenever possible. 

Maggie Potuguntla, Year 11, Ridgeway Campus 

On the 11th of July, a group of around 8 other students and I gathered at the Big Group Hug Warehouse to assist in various service activities. That night, we helped pack some stationery kits, organise clothes, and clean books for less fortunate families. Groups of students volunteer with Big Group Hug frequently throughout the year, as the organisation has been a long-time service partner with the school and does incredible work in assisting local communities and families, with a particular focus on ensuring kids have the essentials they need for school and at home. 

Personally, after participating in this kind of volunteering session a few times throughout my years at Ivanhoe Grammar School, I have had a lot to reflect on. For starters, it’s been great to watch how the school’s close relationship with Big Group Hug has been maintained and strengthened over the years, with more and more students enthusiastically putting up their hand to participate.  

In addition, it has also led me towards a fair bit of personal growth. When volunteering with Big Group Hug, while we don’t have any direct interaction with the families the organisation assists there is still a consistent and confronting reminder of the realities many children and families are facing, and we are all reminded to be grateful for our privileges. This opportunity also makes us feel more connected to the community as our work will help people all across Victoria, and there is a sense of collaboration and togetherness that forms in these sessions between the students participating and the volunteers.  

We also get to learn more about Big Group Hug and similar service organisations, understanding what we can do at home to help these organisations even more; we learnt about the donations, particularly because as we get older and no longer use our old toys, books, or clothes, we know where to send them to someone else who can use them. 

One of my favourite moments during this specific Big Group Hug session was when we were cleaning and organising the children’s books and got to reminisce nostalgically about how we had also grown up with fond memories of these stories and characters, now glad that other children will get to experience that too. 

Ultimately, Big Group Hug has been an incredible partner to the school, evident in the growing interest in participation amongst the students. For me, these volunteering opportunities gave me much to reflect on and a lot of personal growth, but also a sense of contentment in knowing that I had a positive impact on someone.