Woman_39_s_Day_Australia_-_January_04_2021

36 WD

Reallife

urroundedby

sequins,tulle,

andtuxes,Sarah

BisbalfromAdelaide

spendsherdaysmaking

teensfeellikea million

bucksontheirformalor

graduationnight.

The29-year-oldis

co-founderofWithLove

FormalWear,which

providesoutfits,freeof

charge,tochildrenin

fostercare,kinshipcareor

anyvulnerablestudent.

“Ouraimis togiveyoung

peoplea momentintimeto

feeltheirbestandgettobe

partofsomethingbig,”

saysSarah,whoco-runs

thefoundationwithher

auntJossAdele,49.

“It’saboutbeingincluded

withouthavingtofeelguiltyabout

askingtheircarertohelpfinancially,or

havingtofaceaninnerstruggleabout

howtheywillaffordit themselves.”

Sarah created the charity in 2019 with

the motive to give back, like others did

for her when her mum died 10 years

ago. “I want to be what people were

for me. Without the community and

peoplearoundmethere’snowayI’d

havefinishedYear12.”

Duringtheirholidays,thestudents

choosefrom 1000 dresses,anda local

hairdresseroffersfreehaircutsto

make their day extra special.

“It’s overwhelming joy for these

kids,” says Sarah. “It feels amazing to

be able to give them a gift and tell

them life will get better.”

The clothes that

show we care

‘I could sew all

week just on that

happy story’

Handmade

with love

urrounded by

for struggling teens

SarahandJossalso

offerbags,shoes,

jewelleryand

makeuptogowith

theformalgowns.

Thepacks

gotokids

agedfrom

0 to16.

Sarah, Chris and Jason give garments that transform

thelives of thousands of young Aussies

Q

ueenslander Chris Rafter spends

her weekends whizzing up outfits

for children in need.

The 65-year old is the president of Care

Kits for Kids, which distributes backpacks

to children going into care, who are often

forced to flee unsafe situations with only

the clothes on their back.

Each kit includes two sets of handmade

clothes, pyjamas, toiletries, a book and

toy, educational items and a hand-sewn

fabric heart – so they know it’s been made

with love. “For some of these kids they’ve

never had anything new in their lives,”

says Chris, who works alongside 20

DRESSES

CARE PACKS