On the 29th of May, The TOTS Blanket Challenge had its first Handover for 2026!
Dozens of volunteers and charity partners descended onto The Creative Fringe to come together and gather blankets for those in need!
As this was my first handover, (Hi, it’s Ryan!) I was in absolute awe! Seeing all the charity partners pull down the blankets from the railings and dropping them to the ground was a truly magical sight! All the moving parts of the challenge come together in a single moment and it really does highlight the significance of what the TOTS Blanket Challenge achieves every year!
But Ryan, How Many Blankets?
Well, let me tell you!
With the assistance of many volunteers throughout the first half of the challenge, we donated 517 blankets! What an amazing effort!
We would like to thank each and every one of our charity partners who came to the handover and for giving us an opportunity to help those in need of warmth this winter. Without you, the TOTS Blanket challenge could not be what it is today.
Welcoming Our New Charity Partners
This year, we have had 3 new additions to the TOTS Blanket challenge family and I would like to introduce you to them!
Mama Lana’s Community Foundation
We are very excited to welcome back Mama Lana’s Community Foundation, who partnered with TOTS in early May, 2026 and already have helped us share some warmth to the community!
Mama Lana’s Community Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation that provides assistance to the homeless and underprivileged people in our community to advance their well being and prospects for future independence.
We look forward to working with them again!
Uniting Circle Multicultural Community Centre
Uniting Circle Multicultural Community Centre Partnered with TOTs on the day of the handover. We were able to put some blankets aside for them which they picked up after the handover!
At the Uniting Circle Multicultural Community Centre, we are committed to cultivating a welcoming and inclusive environment for culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities, as well as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Our mission is to establish a vibrant space that facilitates connection, resource sharing, and engagement in meaningful educational programs and social services.
We are very excited to work with Uniting Circle!
Paying It Forward Homeless Services
Paying it forward joined as a TOTS charity partner in early June. During this time, they have already received over 50 Blankets to help those in true need of warmth this winter which were handed out at their Sunday night dinner service on the 7th of June.
Paying it Forward is a small registered not for profit local charity that is run by local volunteers. Paying it Forward supports vulnerable persons in the local community. This includes those at risk of domestic violence, youth homelessness as well as, but not limited to, the aged and disabled.
We are very pleased to welcome Paying it Forward Homeless Services into the TOTS Blanket Challenge family!
