Recognition for We Care Connect founder

Derryck Klarkowski has been awarded the Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation’s Chairman’s Medal for his service to children living in poverty through his Central Coast charity, We Care Connect.

Established at Wyong in 2016, We Care Connect is a volunteer-led organisation which distributes quality items for children and essential goods to families in need.

Through the generosity of its volunteers and community donations, it supplies everything from clothes and bedroom items to school supplies and birthday presents to thousands of children and families each year.

Those supported include children experiencing financial disadvantage, family violence or chronic medical conditions or who are at risk of homelessness.

In the past eight years, the organisation has helped almost 24,000 children with more than 645,000 donated items.

Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation Chair Catherine Robson said it was fitting that Derryck was recognised during National Volunteer Week.

“Derryck is known at We Care Connect as a volunteer CEO who leads from the ground up, tackling any job that needs doing including packing donations, repairing furniture and maintaining the warehouse, regularly dedicating five to seven days a week to the cause,” she said.

“Through the hard work of Derryck and his team, We Care Connect has now expanded to the Hunter and sees 120 volunteers across two sites collaborate with 300 case workers from 100 social support agencies.

“The number of children who are better off thanks to the support of We Care Connect is amazing, but there is a phenomenal impact that you can’t quantify – restoring safety, dignity and self-worth to these kids and their families.

“Derryk remains at the heart of everything achieved by We Care Connect, and it has been our privilege at the Foundation to be along for part of this ride.”

For Klarkowski, co-founding We Care Connect was a retirement project that embraced his passion for volunteering and supporting people in need.

As a medical laboratory scientist by profession, his special interest in immunohaematology, tropical medicine and viral infections took him to developing nations with Médecins San Frontières, while he also spent two years as a volunteer in Eritrea.

He managed all this while also leading with the Venturer Scouts and serving with the Rural Fire Service when on home soil.

“It’s very humbling to receive this acknowledgement,” he said.

“Whilst I am the volunteer with the official CEO title, this award really is a reflection of the incredible contribution that all of the We Care volunteers past and present have given.”

We Care Connect team member Helen Barker said Klarkowski inspired countless others to give.

“Every person who’s lucky enough to meet or volunteer with Derryck is humbled and in awe of this community movement he’s created,” she said.

“He shares his vision and wisdom with a grace and generosity that, without a doubt, is making a tangible impact to alleviate the unthinkable struggles for children living in poverty.”

The Chairman’s Medal was first presented in honour of former Foundation Chairman, Michael Slater, who spent more than 50 years volunteering his time and talents to local organisations.

It is recognition for an outstanding volunteer who sets aside their own priorities to better the community.

The Medal is presented annually to a volunteer from a charity that has previously received funding from the Foundation as well as a $5,000 cash grant to the volunteer’s charitable organisation to be used for volunteer development.

Neryl Slater, wife of former Foundation Chair Michael Slater, was there to see the award presented.

Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation provides more than $1M in grants each year to charitable projects aimed at improving the health and social wellbeing of vulnerable people in regional NSW.

We Care Connect has previously received $118,000 from the Foundation.