Peninsula charity celebrates first year

Local charity Rainbow Love will celebrate its first birthday with a special celebration at Umina on Sunday, December 7.

Event manager Ms Susie O'Donnell said all Peninsula residents and supporters of Rainbow Love were welcome to attend the event and bring along a picnic lunch.

"Twelve months ago Rainbow Love was formed to help Levi Ransfield, an eight-year-old boy with multiple disabilities," Ms O'Donnell said.

"Sadly, Levi passed away last June.

"Rainbow Love is his legacy for the friends he left behind who are possibly destined to encounter similar problems and it is our aim to increase general awareness of the disabled and their carers in our community and the problems they face."

Rainbow Love is a registered Peninsula charity raising funds for children with chronic and complex conditions in need of high care on the Central Coast and their struggling families.

"In the last year the Rainbow Love committee has endeavoured to develop a space for people to come together and develop their creativity and at the same time develop an ongoing method of fundraising for Rainbow Love," Ms O'Donnell said.

"This is done by the exhibition and sale of works by local artists and craft persons on a daily basis.

"We also offer alternate therapies such as massage, Reiki, Kinaestheology and more, all of which are offered by local therapists.

"This has been happening at Rainbow Gate in Umina since April last year."

Rainbow Gate is the charity's main headquarters and is located at 204 West St, Umina.

Ms O'Donnell said its Umina location was testament to the amount of support the charity continued to receive from the local community.

"It seems Rainbow Gate has taken on a life of its own in the last few months and is now operating on the multifunctional level we had hoped it would," Ms O'Donnell said.

"The power of healing through art, craft and music is becoming more evident as workshops are being put into motion.

Music sessions, pamper days, spiritual healing days, art exhibitions, drum circles, belly dancing Haflas have all contributed to a colourful and joyful few months of community events at Rainbow Gate."

In an effort to continue to support local children with chronic and complex high care physical needs, Rainbow Love has compiled a wish list for the birthday celebration.

The list includes a wide range of items that will assist with Rainbow Love's efforts to raise funds and to enhance the lives of children with disabilities.

"Whether you are an individual or a large organisation, we have something for every budget," Ms O'Donnell said.

"Miscellaneous items would also be gratefully accepted.

Some of the items on the charity's wish list includes: good signage, assistance in setting up a webpage, laser printer, data projector, good quality bric-a-brac for the market day sales, sponsors for art space, items suitable for raffle prizes, potters clay, as well as grocery and cleaning items.

The Rainbow Gate Shop and Gallery is open Monday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm.

Rainbow Love's first birthday party celebration will take place at Rainbow Gate from 2pm.

Participants are encouraged to bring along a picnic lunch and instruments to join in the fun.

Press release, 14 Nov 2008 Susie O'Donnell, Rainbow Love