A foster mum's initiative to gift care packages to struggling families is going from strength to strength.

When Linda Rolls first founded Kids in Need Waikato, her house near Cambridge was big enough to hold the items including clothes, toys, books and hygiene products, which are distributed to recipients in backpacks and sports bags.

These days, she has a large shed on her property, which is used as not only a storage space, but a place where volunteers can put the packages together, and soon children will be able to play on a playground while their parents or carers watch on.

And support for Kids in Need Waikato is increasing from various organisations, including Mosaic Community Choir from Cambridge.

They will be headlining a concert in Cambridge Town Hall on August 31, which will raise funds to help Roil's initiative.

"They just contacted me and asked if we would like them to do it for us," Roil said.

"It's just mindblowing."

When the choir heard about her humanitarian venture, they organised the charity variety concert, which will also feature folk band Rhodeworks, the Mighty River Harmony quartet, Cambridge songstress Kirsty Young, Sistema Children's Choir, and instrumental band Brass Roots. 

With the wide ranging support Roil has been getting, the care packs that she distributes are constantly getting better.

"Last year my goal was for the sports bags for foster kids. Instead of carrying their stuff around in rubbish bags, they get a backpack and a sports bag now."

In the beginning, she was only able to order 50 sports bags at a time, because she was tight on funds.

But now Roil can order as many as she needs.

"I just can't believe how big it's got," she said.

Many volunteers are now helping out in whatever capacity they can, as well.

"We went away for eight weeks, and the volunteers ran it really well, so I know I can just leave it to volunteers."

*The Mosaic Choir Charity Concert will be taking place in Cambridge Town Hall on August 31, 2-4pm. Purchase tickets at Paper Plus Cambridge, Te Awamutu and Morrinsville.

Read original article at Stuff