GCS- Raising awareness one drive at a time inc

27/12/2025

We’re nearly near Canberra now and while the roads have definitely kept things interesting (soooo many roadworks… 😅), the vibe in the car has shifted. We’re tired, happy, grateful and very much ready to be home.

Long drives give you a lot of time to think. For us, it’s been a reminder that while life keeps moving, so many people are quietly carrying heavy loads. Mental health doesn’t take a holiday, and neither does the need for connection, compassion and su***de prevention.

If you’re struggling right now, please know you’re not alone. Reach out, speak up, check in on your mates, those small moments can genuinely save lives 🤍

As we head into 2026, our hearts are full and our vision is clear.
Here’s what we’re working towards next year:

✨ Our 2026 Goals
• Walks through towns
• Community events
• Fundraisers
• New programs
• Special guests
• New merchandise

Everything we do is for community, with community.
If you’d like to support us and help make these goals a reality, donations are always appreciated and go straight back into supporting those who need it most.

💛 GoFundMe:
https://gofund.me/184d67bf6

💛 Bank Details:
BSB: 083543
Account number: 504255664

Thank you for being part of this journey with us. Bring on home… and bring on 2026 💪✨

Here's some pics from the drive!!!

27/12/2025

🚨UPDATE ON TRIP HOME!!!🚨

6pm and we hit the road… and now we’re officially back in NSW, slowly making our way home 🛣️

Our last day in QLD couldn’t have been better. Aussie World was absolutely amazing and made our final day extra special for us and the kids, so many laughs, tired little legs and big smiles all around (pics coming below 👇).

This whole holiday, spending time with family, has been exactly what we needed. Time to reset, reconnect and just be. Grateful doesn’t even begin to cover it ❤️

Now it’s homeward bound, hearts full, memories made…
Bring on 2026 ✨

26/12/2025

Last day in QLD 🥹☀️

Today marks our final day up here and we’re making the most of every minute. We’re off to Aussie World to let the kids burn off all that holiday energy, soak up some laughs, and make a few last memories before the long drive home 🎢❤️

Then it’s wheels turning, heading back home so we can be there in time to welcome in the New Year together. This trip has been just what our little family needed, a reset, some fun, and quality time away from the busyness of life.

QLD, you’ve been good to us. Home, here we come 🏡✨

What’s everyone else doing to wrap up the year?

26/12/2025

🎄➡️🛍️ Boxing Day chaos, Christmas money & a gentle reminder 🛍️➡️🎄

We braved the Boxing Day madness today and took the kids to Gladstone shops to spend their Christmas money… and wow 😳 it was PACKED.

Shoutout to everyone working today, we genuinely feel for you. The crowds, the noise, the pressure… you’re absolute legends 💙

There were some decent sales, though, and most importantly… we all made it out alive (barely 😅)
But it also got us thinking, days like today can be a lot.

The crowds. The spending pressure. The noise. The comparisons. The exhaustion.

If today feels overwhelming for you, please know you’re not alone. It’s okay to step back, skip the shops, mute the noise and just breathe. Your mental health matters more than any sale ever will.

💬 Let’s chat:
• Did you brave the Boxing Day sales or avoid them completely?
• Where did you go (if you went out)?
• How are you actually feeling today?
Check in on your mates, be kind to retail workers, and be gentle with yourself 🤍

25/12/2025

🎄 Community Christmas Lunch – What a Beautiful Day 🎄

Our community Christmas lunch went absolutely amazing, and our hearts are so full. While we weren’t able to be there in person, we were there in spirit every step of the way 🤍

A huge thank you to Iris and her incredible friends, who did such a beautiful job bringing people together, creating a safe and welcoming space, and making sure no one felt alone on Christmas Day. This is what community looks like.

If anyone has photos from the day, we would absolutely love to see them – please send them through so we can share and celebrate this special moment together 📸✨

💬 We’re also putting a call out to our amazing community for the next steps of GCS:

• We are looking into possibly moving into a bigger space so we can expand our outreach and do even more for those who need it most.
• We are seeking local businesses who may like to sponsor or support us in any way.
• We’re also looking for local markets that may be willing to offer us a stall so we can grow our reach and continue building our community.

If you or someone you know can help with any of the above, please reach out – every connection makes a difference.

💛 If you’d like to donate or support us:

Our GoFundMe:
https://gofund.me/184d67bf6

Direct Transfer:
Name: GCS
BSB: 083543
Account Number: 504255664

As always, thank you for standing with us, believing in what we do, and helping us continue to support our community. We couldn’t do this without you 🤍

Hi my names Abby and I'm the president of GCS-Raising awareness one drive at… Abby Thetford needs your support for Help GCS continue to support our community.

24/12/2025

From our little family to yours, we wish you a Merry Christmas 🤍🎄

Today can look very different for everyone. For some, it’s full of laughter, food, and familiar faces. For others, like ourselves, Christmas can carry a quiet heaviness. It can stir up grief, loss, financial stress, broken relationships, exhaustion, or memories we’re still learning how to live with.

The holidays have a way of magnifying what we’re already feeling. Situational distress is real, and during this time of year it can feel suffocating. Smiles can hide so much pain. Silence can be loud. And sometimes just getting through the day takes everything someone has.

If today feels hard, please know you are not weak, broken, or alone. Your feelings matter. You matter. Reach out to someone you trust, sit beside someone who’s struggling, or send that message you’ve been thinking about. Connection saves lives, especially during the holidays.

If you’re fighting thoughts you don’t know how to carry, please reach out for help. There are people who care deeply about you and want you here, even if it doesn’t feel that way right now.

Today, be kind. Be gentle. Check on your mates. Hold space for those who are hurting, and for yourself too.

Sending love, strength, and compassion from our little family to yours 🤍🎄

24/12/2025

🌟 Calling Local Businesses & Our Amazing Community 🌟
We’re reaching out to ask for a little help that can make a big difference.

👉 First Aid Kits
If your business is upgrading, clearing stock, or has out-of-date or unused first aid kits that are no longer required for workplace compliance, we would be incredibly grateful to take them off your hands.
We can safely sort and repurpose the contents to create first aid packs for our homeless and struggling community, where even basic supplies can be lifesaving.

👉 Old Glasses & Frames
We’re also collecting old prescription glasses or frames. These can help people in our community who are doing it tough and can’t afford eye care right now. Even if they’re not perfect, they may be perfect for someone else 🤍

If you’re able to donate items, or know a business that might be able to help, please comment below or send us a message. Sharing this post also helps us reach more people.

As always, we are a charity that relies solely on donations and community support. If you’re unable to donate items but would like to support what we do, you can contribute below.

Jessie Mays Pty Ltd Mezza Jean Harris Iwalkformensmentalhealth Iris Miller

https://gofund.me/184d67bf6

24/12/2025

Over the last couple of days we’ve had a few people reach out who are doing it tough, and we want you all to know we see you 🤍

Mary has been absolutely flat out yesterday and today, dropping off care packages and Christmas presents to those in need.

With us away at the moment, there may be a slight delay in getting packages out to everyone, but please know we are working hard behind the scenes to stay on track and make sure everyone still has an amazing Christmas 🎄✨

We also want to give a massive shout-out to Mezza Jean Harris . She has been doing an incredible job answering comments, replying to messages and making sure no one is forgotten. We are so grateful to have her on board and couldn’t do this without her 💚

As a charity, we rely solely on donations and the support of our community. If you’d like to help us continue doing what we do best and ensure we can keep supporting those in need, you can donate via our GoFundMe or directly to our bank account below 🤍

GoFundMe:
https://gofund.me/184d67bf6

Bank Details:
Name: GCS
BSB: 083543
Account Number: 504255664

Every donation, share and kind word helps more than you know. Thank you for standing with us 💚

23/12/2025

🎄 Merry Christmas from all of us at GCS 🎄

To all of our incredible followers, supporters, volunteers and community, we wish you a very Merry Christmas. Thank you for walking beside us throughout the year, for your kindness, generosity and for always showing up when it matters most.

As joyful as today can be, we also want to gently remind everyone that Christmas isn’t always fun or cheerful for everyone. For some, it can be a really hard time. Please keep your people close, check in on your mates, send that message, make that call, you never know how much it could mean to someone who’s struggling.

💛 Christmas Lunch Reminder 💛
Tomorrow, Christmas Day, there will be a free Christmas lunch at Apex Park, Moe, starting at 12 noon.
This is for anyone who is alone, doing it tough, or just needs a place to feel welcome.
🎁 There will also be FREE toys available for children, so no little one has to miss out this Christmas.
No judgement, no questions just food, gifts, company and community.

You are never alone. Our community is always here for you.
From our family to yours, stay safe, stay kind, and look after each other 🎅✨

23/12/2025

22/12/2025

✨ Something new is coming… ✨

As we head into the new year, we’re getting ready to launch something a little special 👀
We’ve been quietly working behind the scenes, and soon we’ll be dropping brand new GCS merch!

This isn’t just about hoodies, shirts, or cool designs, it’s about purpose.
💙 Every single dollar made from our merch will go straight back into everything we do: outreach, food support, community events, helping families, and standing beside those who need it most.

By wearing our merch, you’re not just repping GCS, you’re helping keep our work going, helping us reach more people, and helping us show up where it matters.
We can’t wait to share what’s coming, and we’re so grateful to have a community that supports us every step of the way.

📸 Sneak peeks coming soon…
Stay tuned, spread the word, and get ready, 2026 is going to be big.
👇 Would you grab some merch to support the community?

22/12/2025

Our holiday is well and truly underway, and while we’re absolutely enjoying the slower pace, the family time and a chance to properly rest and reset, we just want to say how much we are genuinely missing our community.

It feels so strange not being in the middle of outreach, events, phone calls, messages and daily check-ins. We miss the familiar faces, the conversations, the laughs, the hugs and even the chaos that comes with doing what we do.
This time away has really shown us just how much our community is a part of our everyday lives, it never really leaves you, even when you step away for a little while.

This break has been much needed for us as a family, and we’re grateful to have this time together to recharge so we can come back refreshed, grounded and ready to continue supporting those who need it most. Knowing the community is still supporting one another in our absence means more to us than we can put into words.
We’ll add some photos below of our holiday so far a little glimpse into the quieter moments behind the scenes 💛
Now we want to hear from you… what is everyone up to today? Are you relaxing, working, spending time with family, or just trying to stay cool?
Drop a comment and let us know we love staying connected with you all, even while we’re away 🤍