Over 1,000 chocolate Easter eggs have been delivered to sick young patients at the Sydney Children’s Hospital, the St George Hospital Children’s Ward and the Ronald McDonald House Randwick.
Easter eggs were also recently distributed to the Bayside Women’s Shelter, Pantry for the People and Street Buffet, which provides meals for the homeless.
This exciting surprise was made possible after the Saint Elesa Food Initiative, which is run by the Greek Orthodox Parish and Community in Kogarah, launched its annual ‘Chocolate Easter Egg Drive.’
Parish priest, Father Athanasios Giatsios, tells The Greek Herald the Easter drive was initially meant to be a small local initiative but once word spread, everyone wanted to donate chocolate.
Among the list of donators are Acropolis Funerals, the Symian Association of NSW – O Taxiarchis, the Mascot Kings Football Club and Christopher’s Cake Shop, as well as many others.
Once donated, the chocolate Easter eggs were delivered to the children’s hospitals and other organisations by His Grace Bishop Christodoulos of Magnesia together with the President of the Parish, Nicholas Varvaris, and members of the Ladies Philoptochos.
Father Athanasios says that despite being unable to physically enter the hospitals due to COVID-19 restrictions, it was still an honour to be able to bring a smile to the faces of sick children and their families.
“We know that a lot of these children and their families are doing it tough throughout the year. Sometimes they are lacking the basic stuff we take for granted and for them [to receive the chocolate] means that people care for them,” the parish priest says.
“Staff have told us that the kids go crazy when they see the chocolate eggs. Making the effort to make them smile means the world to us.”
In a statement to The Greek Herald, the Head of Fundraising and Marketing at Ronald McDonald House Charities Sydney, Rob Novotny, says they are “so grateful to the Kogarah Orthodox Church for their donation of Easter goodies and groceries for our pantry.”
“The chocolate bunnies and hot cross buns were a big hit with the sick and injured children staying at the House and the pantry donation was a big relief for their parents,” Mr Novotny says.
“Donations like this make it possible for us to support the families with seriously ill or injured children receiving treatment at the Sydney Children’s Hospital.
“After a long day at the hospital, for a family it makes all the difference to be able to help themselves to the pantry instead of going grocery shopping. It saves the families time, money and gives them more energy to concentrate on what’s most important – family!”
If you would like to make a donation to the Ronald McDonald House Charities Sydney, please visit www.rmhcsydney.org.au.
