Josh McMahon A group has formed that is both helping its members and the wider community – but they now need your help to continue helping others. “Mend and Make Do” commenced its existence in 2014, when South Grafton resident Ursula Tunks decided she needed to do something to help the most vulnerable in our community. Motivated by her own experience with depression, she created a group that aimed to give people a feeling of belonging and purpose. Mend and Make Do has since taken on the role of gathering and distributing toiletry kits for the homeless, in Clarence, Lismore, Tweed and beyond. They also hand-make bags for the kit from recycled materials. So far around 400 kits have been distributed using a network of organisations throughout the region, but now the group needs the community’s help more than ever. “Now we’ve got these big orders from organisations coming up to Christmas, we need some help,” Ms Tunks said. The group is particularly hoping for donations of the much needed items of roll-on deodorant, toothpaste, and toothbrushes, to add to the kits. “If these people get to shower, put on some deodorant, clean their teeth – to give them something that people have taken the time to put together, their faces light up,” Ms Tunks said. The group meets on the 13th of each month, and Ms Tunks welcome new members, or people who wanted to donate items, to contact her on 0402 024 209. The group is also active on facebook, at ‘Court of Mend and Make Do’.