24/10/2026
I wanted to say a little something In the middle of all of our very grateful posts lately, for all the support that the Canberra community has shown to us in the past month, after an extremely tough year all round.
Sometimes I worry that our online presence mostly shows the asking for and the thanks we give for all that we receive as a charity, and not enough where the money and the support we give out goes. How it touches the lives of so many families so deeply. The way it arrives at critical moments and brings a much needed moment of relief. The way it helps to ease some burdens that come with long hospital stays and no leave left. The way a little helping hand, even a meal cooked with love, can make someone feel cared for when they are giving their all to their little one.
I made a decision, right at the start of Stella Bella Foundation, that we would never give to families with any expectation of a return. We donโt ask for photos when we give out financial support, or when we provide gifts or vouchers for fuel and food, or meals in hospital. We donโt ask for donations from the families we support, even after the hardest times have passed, or encourage them to buy tickets to our fundraising events. Our core purpose is to give and to help alleviate the stress and hardship that befalls these families, and itโs always been very important to keep that in mind. Of course, some of our families love to join in at events and try and support us when they can and sometimes they share their photos or stories and we love seeing them, but we never want anyone to feel obligated in any way for any help they have received.
Because of this, the vast majority of families that we have helped in the past 14 years, we have never met. Weโve havenโt been there when their social worker, or nurse has given them something they need that we have provided or something that has brought a moment of joy, but we donโt need to be. Our job is to find ways to help and to have a full enough purse to never have to say no to a family in need and even in this tough economical time, weโve never had to reject a request for support.
Weโve always kept our admin costs super low, been as frugal as we can and worked hard to keep the funds needed coming into our purse so that we can carry out these very crucial requests when they come in.
All of the posts you see through the year about our fundraising events and amazing sponsors are not always as cute or heartwarming as seeing a beautiful little smiling face of a child we may have helped, but all of those kind and generous businesses and individuals who care, are the ones that keep our purse full enough to be able to help all through the year and we literally couldnโt do our important work without them.
Thank you to everyone who is always in the wings helping us to help others, it really is huge community effort and Iโm so proud of our community every day.
I share a photo of little Stella here because I know that she wouldnt mind at all and that she is happy in the stars with all of the good work that we have done ever since she taught us about what life is like for very sick children and their families. Also because she is cute and warms my heart whenever I think of her ###
Lots of love, Stella Bellaโs mum โค๏ธ
