Inspiring kindness

Julia Marcus, a passionate and dedicated member of Epping Conference, is spreading kindness and hope through a heartfelt initiative – a toiletry drive at Future Super Stars Early Learning Child Care Centre Epping.  

Drawing inspiration from her volunteer experience with Vinnies Sunbury during university and her time as a conference member, Julia’s commitment to our mission at St Vincent de Paul Society Victoria continues to shine. 

Now part of Epping Conference since August, Julia is leading this heartfelt initiative and bringing the community together through this meaningful drive. All the toiletries collected during the drive will be donated to conference, where they will be distributed to individuals and families in need. 

The idea for the drive came to life when Julia saw the joy her elder son experienced participating in a similar initiative at their school. Recognising the power of such activities to inspire young minds, she decided to engage her youngest son’s kindergarten in a toiletry drive. The kindergarten community enthusiastically embraced the idea, with parents, employees and children rallying to support the cause. 

The drive focuses on collecting essential toiletries such as nappies, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, toothbrushes, toothpaste and hair accessories. These items may seem small, but they mean the world to someone struggling to make ends meet. Julia explained how quickly these supplies run out due to the consistent demand from families, leaving a gap that this initiative aims to fill. 

But, for Julia, the drive is about more than just replenishing shelves – it’s about inspiring hearts and planting seeds of compassion among the young.  

“The kids absolutely love it,” Julia shared with a smile. “It’s wonderful to see their excitement and to plant the seed of kindness at such a young age. When kids are inspired, it often encourages adults to get involved too, creating a ripple effect of generosity in the community.” 

The initiative also builds awareness about the ongoing challenges faced by vulnerable communities. 

While this year’s drive is focused on Future Superstars Kindergarten, Epping Conference envisions expanding the initiative to other kindergartens and community groups in the future. By making the drive a regular activity, they hope to ensure consistent support for people in need while deepening community engagement with Vinnies’ work. 

Her advice to others is simple yet powerful: “Just do it. Getting the next generation involved in acts of kindness is a beautiful thing. Their enthusiasm inspires us as adults and builds a stronger, more caring community.” 

Julia’s toiletry drive embodies the essence of Vinnies’ Good Works – bringing communities together to support Victorians in need, one kind act at a time.