eKourier Jan 2017

CHARITY

A Life Changing Experience For Homeless Kids

made from a Kennards Box, including a Luna ParK replica! We also had the pleasure of listening to one very brave Stepping Stone House residents life experience. Her stories were real and touching as she thanked Stepping Stone House for giving her a ‘normal’ life. The city just doesn’t stop.With activity all night; the sounds of trains, boats and sirens and a sea of lights. When I stirred the next morning I realised my glass of water wasn’t on my bedside table and my worldly possessions weren’t arranged safely around my house. Instead I ‘slept’ with my possessions inside my sleeping bag, I didn’t have any water and my pillow was a patch of grass. Even as a participant I’d be a fool for not recognising this was all still far better than what most homeless people experience.

Ever wondered what 900 built Kennards Boxes looks like?

9 00 assembled Kennards Boxes is not your average sight to see under Sydneys famous Harbour Bridge. On the 7th of October last year Sydney Harbour transformed, as a fantastic group of kind-hearted and resilient people (including a group of our very own Kennardians) chose to make a difference by sleeping rough for the night, supporting Stepping Stone House (SSH) Sleep Under the Stars event to raise money for Homeless Youth and Youth at risk in NSW. Sadly there are over 42,000 homeless people in Australia, nearly 50% are not even 24 years old. In NSW alone we have more than 10,000 homeless youth aged between 12 and 24. Stepping Stone House was founded

by Sam’s Aunty and Uncle in 1989 and is a Not For Profit organisation. Kennards Self Storage have unwaver- ingly supported the house since its humble beginnings changing the lives of thousands of kids. The House provides medium to long term accommodation for young people aged 12 – 24 who are homeless or for reasons cannot live with their families. Through three houses they support and develop these kids self-esteem, resilience, self-confidence and health through motivational experiential learning so that they can achieve responsible independence and be the best they can be. The evening was a tremendous success. As I looked around and saw the shanty town of erected Kennards Self Storage Boxes, I felt very proud.

Along with Kennards Self Stoarge being a Gold Sponsor and also donating 900 Boxes for the night, our small Kennards Team also raised a huge $14,243 for this beneficial cause. Even more exciting the $155,000 raised by all the participants will provide six young people a home, personal develop- ment and life skills for a whole year through Stepping Stone House. The 2017 Sleep Under the Stars event will be held on Friday 27th October this year. It’s a great Team building and family event for a wonderful cause. Help Stepping Stone House make a differ- ence. See you there! Fiona Harding Business Development Manager L to R: HK Tung (THQ), Glenn Collins (KSS Waterloo), Jesse Dux, Sharon Dux (THQ), Lexie Kennard, Olivia Kennard, Fiona Harding (THQ), Sam Kennard (THQ) and Jason Juretic, CEO of Stepping Stone House.

After a feed at the Soup Kitchen the event came alive as Teams designed their shelters. Tourists and people stopped in awe of what was happening, taking photos and asking questions. Our efforts in raising awareness were being rewarded. The imagination and effort of the shelters was fantastic, it’s amazing what can be

18 Kennards Kourier Jan 2017