Help mothers experiencing disadvantage to feel special this Mother's Day.
Here at Winki Zinc, we go beyond crafting exceptional suncare and beauty products. Our brand is deeply committed to environmental responsibility and social justice, continuously working towards a healthier planet and a better quality of life for all. We believe in using our platform to uplift communities and support initiatives that make a meaningful difference in people's lives.
This Mother’s Day we are partnering with Love Totes to raise money through our Mothers Day Bundle as well as donating over $800 worth of Winki Zinc products to mothers at Emma House who are currently experiencing hardship.
"We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty" - Mother Teresa
We sat down with Jess from Love Totes to discuss our collaboration and the importance of this initiative.
Jess is a hardworking, homeschooling mother of three and she's the driving force behind Love Totes. Founded in Geelong, Love Totes aims to spread joy and hope to vulnerable women, including those experiencing homelessness or fleeing from domestic violence situations. According to Jess, Love Totes "aims to show love to women who desperately need it, to give something different than just the essentials in an effort to boost their sense of worth and to spoil them a little bit."
The Inspiration Behind Love Totes
The idea for Love Totes was born out of Jess's desire to make a positive impact on the lives of women facing adversity. In 2018, she felt a strong calling to show care and love to those affected by homelessness or domestic violence, to remind them that they are cherished and valued members of the community.
Jess recognises that there are many amazing charities that are wonderfully set up to provide homeless women with essential items, but for her it was “important to do something a little different” by providing a more luxurious gift on Mothers Day.
Why Collaborate with Local, Eco-Friendly Brands?
Collaborating with local, eco-friendly, and ethical brands is a cornerstone of Love Totes. Jess emphasised, “The desire was not just to give any commercial products, but those that were good for the planet, good for the women and locally sourced."
By partnering with local, eco-friendly, and ethical businesses, Jess ensures that the gifts provided are not only of high quality but also align with her values of sustainability and community support.
This is not a big, fancy, commercial gifting program. It is a small, local and meaningful initiative.
The Impact of Mother's Day Gifts
As Mother's Day approaches, the significance of these gifts becomes even more profound. Some women are separated from their children and their own mothers, and the grief associated with this is often amplified on days like this. Jess hopes that each woman who receives a Love Tote feels uplifted and pampered, finding encouragement in the midst of hardship. "I hope the women recognise their worth as a Mother and are encouraged by these special deliveries to them on such a significant day."
Gifting to Emma House in 2024
In previous years Jess has organised Love Totes for Haven Home Safe in Geelong and Geelong Inclusive Safe House.
This year Jess has been working with Emma House to identify and distribute gifts to 25 mothers experiencing hardship.
Emma House is the primary specialist family violence service in South West Victoria. Since 1979, they have been assisting women and their children who are experiencing or have experienced family violence.
“We offer an opportunity for women to talk to someone about their situation without judgement or discrimination. We believe that everyone has the right to be safe, to be treated equally and have access to the same opportunities as everyone else. We know that violence of any kind denies people these rights.” - Emma House
How You can Help
Help us magnify our impact here at Winki Zinc, by shopping our Mother’s Day Bundle. We are donating $18 for each bundle sold directly to Emma House, and the funds will go towards resourcing this vital community service.
Alternatively, you can donate directly to Emma House here.
Interested in supporting this initiative or something similar? Jess encourages further involvement and spreading the love: "Individuals who wish to support us can purchase products directly from the businesses for the purpose of Love Totes."
Jess's vision extends beyond Mother's Day, with plans to continue and expand Love Totes' reach in the future. "I’d love to develop ongoing collaborations with local businesses in a way that will positively impact them as well as vulnerable women." So stay tuned for more ways to support this initiative in the future.
In Conclusion
At Winki Zinc, we're honoured to be part of Love Totes Geelong's mission to spread love, joy, and hope to women in need. Through our collaboration, we hope to uplift mothers who deserve to feel cherished and supported, not just on Mother's Day, but every day. We encourage you to reach out to your community this Mother’s Day and support local initiatives like this, wherever you are.
This is just one example of a truly collaborative approach to making a difference in the community: "Love Totes would not be possible without the generous donations given by local businesses” and it wouldn’t be possible without people like Jess. We're incredibly grateful for her tireless dedication to making the world a better place, one tote bag at a time.
Together, let's continue to make a positive impact and build a more compassionate and inclusive community for all.
