When Ty and Rachel Simons wanted to help local war veterans by putting together hamper packs for Anzac Day, they didn’t realise the idea would snowball into a monumental effort.
Ty and Rachel run Driftwood Cafe in Ocean Grove and initially were going to put together five boxes for local veterans and they asked for names on the cafe’s social media.
They received 12 names, but then Mike (himself a former navy pilot) and Jenny Killingsworth gave a generous donation which mean the number of boxes could be expanded.
“Given this I enlisted Rotary to help me get names,” Ty said.
“This was followed by another donation by Lynette Carlson (Rotary) and family.
“We needed more names, so the local RSL supplied us with a list. We had a few extra names than they had.”
The total number was 35 boxes given out in Ocean Grove, Barwon Heads, Leopold and even two sent to Ocean Grove people now living in Waurn Ponds and Melbourne.
Ty asked his suppliers for help fill the boxes and was supported by: Will Evans ‘The Egg Man’ – free range eggs; La Madre Bakery – bread; Green Pastures – milk; Ocean Grove Cellars – wine; Pretty’s Fine Cuts –sausages; and Lard Ass – butter.
Driftwood included muffins, lasagne, ready meals, soup, Anzac biscuits and a roll of toilet paper.
“The boxes would retail for about $130 each,” Ty said.
“Ocean Grove Rotary Club supplied an army of volunteers to pack the boxes and deliver to the veterans.
“All were greatly appreciated and we have been fielding phone calls and letters of thanks for the past few days.
“It is great that our little community could get together and help to look after those who have done so much for us. It left plenty of smiles all round.”
