Big Group Hug (BGH) is urging the public to consider a monetary donation to help provide hundreds of babies with a comfortable place to sleep.
BGH was recently donated 500 cots, and needs to raise $30,000 to buy mattresses.
BGH chief executive officer Bernadene Voss said a $70 donation is all it takes to give one baby a warm, comfortable cot.
“There are children out there who don’t have a safe and comfortable place to sleep at night,” Ms Voss said.
“As the cost of living crisis bites, this demand only continues to grow. “
In the past 12 months, there has been a 30 per cent increase in demand for cots for babies in Melbourne. According to BGH, 63 percent of requests can’t be filled.
In January 2025, Melbourne mother Tarni Borg was sharing a bed with her twin babies after fleeing domestic violence.
“We were living in my old childhood bedroom and all sharing my childhood bed until I could source cots,” Ms Borg said.
Ms Borg was able to stay with her parents but left behind essential items like cots, car seats and nappies when she fled.
“I got a few items of clothing for me and my daughters and left knowing we could never go back.”
Ms Borg said when she moved in with her parents she was working part-time and quickly realised she needed help.
“All I wanted to do was break down and cry at night but I couldn’t.”
She said she connected with BGH and was given a range of essential supplies, like nappies, wipes and toy packs.
Ms Borg now lives with her daughters in a four-bedroom house in Beveridge.
“I have such a huge sense of gratitude that there were people out there able to help me in my biggest time of need.“
To make a tax-deductible donation to BGH visit https://mattress.biggrouphug.org/
