Christmas Newsletter 2023

WHAT IS A LOVE BUNDLE? Love Bundles are care packages provided to New Hope India aged leprosy patients. When you purchase a Love Bundle you receive a card to pass on as a gift to others. You can buy a Love Bundle on behalf of your family or as a gift for a friend to share the New Hope message. Feel good by doing good this Christmas! To buy a Love Bundle or find out more, visit the website here. Or if you’re in Broome, check out the event below and head to the Love Bundle stall.

UPCOMING NEW HOPE INDIA FUNDRAISER – BROOME This one is for our Broome supporters and friends – New Hope India Sip and Shop Christmas Markets is on again in 2023, after last year’s successful launch. Top tip for this year – get along early for all your Christmas gift shopping! Join us (by gold coin donation) and over 30 stallholders in air conditioned comfort at the Broome Civic Centre on Friday, 1 December from 4-8.30pm. As well as all your gift shopping in one place, there will be food vans, entertainment including live music, face painting and bauble craft for the kids, as well as raffles and a bar! Our big raffle will be drawn on the night – to purchase a raffle ticket and for more information on stallholders, head here. And don’t forget to check out the Love Bundle stall and give the Christmas gift of love.

INDIAN BAZAAR AT CHAKRA Anna and Linda enjoying the day! What an amazing experience New Hope supporters and friends enjoyed in November at Chakra Restaurant, one of Perth’s most applauded Indian restaurants. We were told to expect fresh, traditional home-style Indian cuisine including an array of canapes, curries, and dessert – and we weren’t disappointed! Along with cocktails and mocktails, guests enjoyed a raffle and a lively auction with generously donated prizes including a $1000 stay at Hamelin Bay Seaclusion and a Park Lane jewellery set. Raffle winners There was also the opportunity to purchase a selection of handmade Indian crafts – including traditional printed cotton tablecloths, throws and bags – as well as stunning donated antique jewellery. Thank you to our supporters for attending this event, we raised over $3000 which was sent directly to New Hope India.

VALENTINE’S DAY LOVE BOAT FUNDRAISER Thank you to everyone who joined us on Perth’s iconic Paddle Steamer, Decoy, in February for a slow cruise down the Swan River to raise much needed funds for New Hope India. It was a stunning Perth day and we shared lots of stories and laughter while cruising. On board we sold Indian jewellery, crafts, bags and copies of Maggie Sister’s book, Sister, Sister (also available here). We also held a raffle and sold delicious homemade fudge. New Hope supporters helped us raise nearly $5000. We were so thankful and excited to send this money directly to New Hope India. The money raised from the jewellery sales is funding the operation and maintenance of Jean’s Tea House.

WHERE DO THE FUNDS RAISED GO? All of the money raised by Friends of New Hope Australia goes directly to New Hope India. This year we helped to fund ongoing care and education of children and adults, as well as several projects. Projects included the purchase and installation of a solar hot water system; renovations to one of the children’s dormitories; and an irrigation project. The irrigation project included three new stands, a new tank, repairs of existing and new pipes to all fields for a new season of planting, and irrigation pipes to fields providing food for many plus water supply of 75 mango trees, bananas and coconuts, which are used for food and for income.

ONE LAST THANK YOU Friends of New Hope Australia is directed by a committee of dedicated and passionate volunteers. The committee recognises the many people we reach out to for donations, those who contribute in various practical ways, supporters of our events, and those who fundraise for New Hope, such as Flow with Nicole in Broome. Beverley Selten – President