Community giving assists 15 community projects across the Limestone Coast

Pictured: Limestone Coast Toy Library, Naracoorte

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The projects supported were varied and ranged from supporting school students from the Penola area to undertake accredited driving lessons, providing relief for families in need over Christmas with vouchers for food and toys, through to supporting disadvantaged schools with a selection of brand-new books tailored to their school library’s needs, as well as assisting the Naracoorte based Longridge Aged Care facility with the purchase of innovative dementia care equipment for their residents.

Mr Roger Babolka, CEO of Stand Like Stone Foundation said, “the impact of donations to the foundation continues to be realised every year, with all donations invested earning income, which then goes back to the community annually through our community grants and educational scholarship programs.

“This year we received 26 applications, and it would’ve been great if we were able fund all of them. However, the 15 projects that were successful had a combined total project value of nearly $178,000, which is great for the Limestone Coast. At the end of the day, it’s thanks to our donors, supporters, sponsors, and of course all the grant applicants, that we continue to realise our vision of inspiring community kindness and courage,” said Mr Babolka.

One of this year’s successful applicants is the Naracoorte based Limestone Coast Toy Library for their ‘Read, Write, Create’ program. The community toy lending library opened its doors in September 2023 with approximately 300 toys, and now has over 800 toys to offer to the families of Naracoorte and surrounding towns.

Secretary of the Limestone Coast Toy Library Lauren Sebek said, “our project 'Read, Write, Create' will enable us to purchase toys that will increase and improve our literacy and arts collection, with the aim of supporting development of language and communication skills and encourage creativity for children in our region.”

The Naracoorte based not-for-profit toy library are members of ‘Toy Libraries Australia’ and receives ongoing community support through toy and monetary donations from local businesses and organisations, as well as the Naracoorte Lucindale Council and One Forty One.

2024 Successful Grant Projects

• Penola High School: Supporting eligible students to undertake driving lessons through the provision of an accredited driving instructor - $8,000
• Mt Gambier Cancer Support Group Inc.: Assisting disadvantaged community members with financial support when travelling distances to receive critical cancer treatment - $3,500
• Keith Theatre Group Inc.: Assist with the purchase of important audio equipment which enables the group to run their own productions, reducing the need to hire equipment from Adelaide each year - $10,000
• Dymocks Children’s Charities: The Library Regeneration program replenishes disadvantaged schools with a selection of brand-new books tailored to their school library’s needs - $5,000
• The Nurtured Village Hampers Ltd.: Providing new mums with face-to-face support, creating a culture of understanding and support for those mothers facing mental health challenges - $1,500
• The Penola Festival Association Inc: Grant to assist with the purchase of a marquee for the Down the Lane Kids program, which enables school children and their families to access and participate in arts activities, as part of the annual Penola Coonawarra Arts Festival - $3,620
• Longridge Aged Care: Assist with the purchase of innovative dementia care equipment for the residents of Longridge, that’s designed to prevent and alleviate restlessness and tense behaviours in dementia patients - $10,000
• Four Reasons Why: Assist with the creation and distribution of Christmas voucher packs for families in need. Each pack contains Coles, Kmart and Foodbank vouchers as well as a Wulanda family day pass - $3,700
• Carpenters Rocks Progress Association: Assist with the development of a recreation park for the seaside community, benefiting locals and tourists, as well as encouraging exercise, fitness and well-being outcomes - $4,000
• Foodbank SA & NT: Assist with the replacement of a freezer which will enable the organisation to continue to provide critical food relief to those in need across the Limestone Coast - $5,900
• Limestone Coast Toy Library Inc.: Assist with the purchase of toys that will increase and improve language and communication skills and encourage creativity in the children of the Limestone Coast - $3,675
• Tandara Lodge Penola District Inc.: Assist with the installation and upgrade of external LED solar lighting, for the safety and wellbeing of the aging residents of Tandara Lodge - $5,900
• Holdfast Limestone Coast Inc.: To increase public awareness of our marine flora by engaging with the community through the development of a podcast - $2,579
• Fringe Berrin Inc.: Assist with the running of the 2025 Fringe OUTREACH program, bringing the Fringe directly to vulnerable groups and those who experience barriers to arts participation - $3,000
• Mount Gambier City Band Inc.: Assist with the replacement and upgrade of windows to protect the band’s extensive music library containing printed music extending back many decades, much of which is irreplaceable- $4,000

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