Ford Australia’s long-standing relationship with Big Group Hug — a grassroots children’s charity supporting families in crisis across Victoria — has become even more important as the organisation faces a sharp rise in demand for essential items, particularly car seats.
At the recent media launch of the Ford E Transit Custom, Kelli Browne, Chief Impact and Partnership Officer at Big Group Hug, told the assembled media that Ford’s support over the past year has been “a real game changer for us”, crediting the partnership with helping volunteers reach more families “far more effectively and efficiently than we ever been able to in the past.”
For fleet buyers and organisations that understand the role vehicles play in community mobility, the appeal highlights the connection between transport, safety and access to support services.
A growing crisis in family material aid
Big Group Hug operates throughout Victoria, supplying essential material aid to children aged 0–16, and now also to young people entering the workforce. The charity works with thousands of case managers who identify critical needs — everything from formula, clothing and toiletries to larger items such as bedding, prams and car seats.
The need is stark and increasing. Browne explained:
- The charity saw a 14% increase in requests last month alone.
- They are currently able to fulfil only around 50% of these requests.
- Over the past decade, Big Group Hug has supported more than 35,000 families.
Many of the families are unemployed or underemployed, fleeing domestic violence, or carers such as grandparents who have unexpectedly become responsible for young children. In some cases, Browne said, parents are forced to water down infant formula because “they can’t afford things like the $50 containers of formula, and the children are becoming malnourished.”
Fleet professionals will understand the significance of mobility in accessing everyday needs — medical appointments, employment opportunities, or even safety. Without a safe, compliant child restraint, families can’t legally travel.
Why car seats are the number one unmet need
Car seats are one of the most expensive and highest-impact items requested, and they’re essential. Browne shared the story of a heavily pregnant woman who walked in the rain to the Thomastown warehouse after being told she wouldn’t be able to take her newborn home from hospital without a car seat.
“She was highly distressed… and she’s just a really good example,” Browne said. “It can make the difference between becoming homeless or getting food on the table.”
Despite the charity’s strong volunteer base — more than 400 community members collecting, checking and preparing donated items — safe car seats are consistently in short supply.
Big Group Hug simply cannot meet demand through recycled donations alone. The charity is now appealing to the broader community for new car seat donations or financial contributions, so they can purchase units to fill the gap.
How Ford is helping — and why it matters
Ford Australia supports Big Group Hug through its logistics program, enabling volunteer drivers to collect, transport and deliver items using Ford vans. The upgraded vehicle fleet has reduced operating costs and expanded capacity.
Volunteer drivers have praised the Ford vans for their ease of use and comfort — a small detail, but one that means more time on the road and more families reached.
The partnership also supports the charity’s sustainability model, which has diverted more than 40 tonnes of materials from landfill by collecting and re-using quality items donated by families.
The connection between mobility, sustainability and community wellbeing aligns strongly with the values of many fleet operators across Australia. This appeal offers an opportunity for organisations to support an initiative rooted in safe, road-ready mobility for vulnerable children.
How fleets and industry can help
Big Group Hug has launched a dedicated landing page for donations — particularly for car seats, which remain the charity’s biggest gap.
Browne noted, “We want to call out to the community to donate… because we simply can’t get enough safe car seats to fill that gap.”
Fleet managers, suppliers, OEMs and industry partners can help in several ways:
- Donate new, regulation-compliant car seats
- Provide funding for the purchase of high-demand safety items
- Support logistics, storage or supply chain services
- Engage staff volunteer programs
- Share the appeal through corporate communication channels
For an industry built around mobility, this is a chance to support families for whom mobility — and safety — are not guaranteed.
Where to donate
Ford Australia’s partnership with Big Group Hug demonstrates how vehicle brands and fleet-focused organisations can make a meaningful, practical difference in the lives of vulnerable families. With demand surging and winter approaching, the need for safe child restraints has never been greater.
For fleet professionals across Victoria and Australia, supporting this appeal is a way to help ensure every child can travel safely — and every family has the chance to move forward.
