FLOOD-RAVAGED Lismore children will receive a heartfelt hug in the mail, thanks to the Cohuna and District Leo and Cubs Club.
Distance has proved to be no barrier for the dedicated group of Cohuna youngsters who have come up with a unique way of ensuring every child in Lismore receives a much-needed hug following the floods.
Leo Adviser Lee Walkington said the Hug in a Rug initiative had been well supported, with children of all ages banding together for the cause.
“All of these kids in Lismore have nothing,” Ms Walkington said.
“They’ve lost their favourite toys as a result of the floods and this is our way of reaching out and letting them know that we are thinking of them.”
The club’s members have been sewing around the clock, creating colourful little sleeping bags which will become home to a teddy, providing a little comfort for those in need.
Ms Walkington said the project was not limited to the Leo and Cubs, with lots of people happy to help the worthwhile cause.
“We’ve had some wonderful donations,” Ms Walkington said.
While some community members have donated fabric and teddy bears, others have donated their time and sewing skills to help make the sleeping bags.
Ms Walkington said one resident had even donated their whole collection of bears, knowing it was going to a worthwhile cause.
While Cohuna is some 1500km from Lismore, Ms Walkington said there were many connections between the two towns, with many knowing someone who had been impacted by the floods.
“That’s what communities are all about, helping each other out when we can,” Ms Walkington said, adding she’d had a firsthand account of the situation through her sister, who lived in Lismore and was an SES volunteer.
“She’s described it as diabolical,” Ms Walkington said.
