Sometimes, crisis workers supporting a parent to leave a violent partner pull kids out of school - enacting a 'leave' plan with little prepared.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
At this point, Tots2Teens will often step in and ensure those children have more than just their school uniforms to wear as arrangements are made.
Program manager Joanne Knight has suitcases full of clothes, packed by volunteers, ready at Storage King Wodonga.
Their sheds are set to become fuller after the organisation joined with other local businesses to make Ms Knight's operation safer and smoother.
"When it rains, we close the shed to stop it coming in and then we can't see anything," she said.
"We've been using torches but that slows us down a lot - that's time volunteers could be packing.
"Our demand is so constant ... I asked the guys here if we could get some lighting."
Storage King has been the home of Tots2Teens for five years now and has enabled flexibility in the charity using the sheds, which aren't designed for people to spend hours in.
But storage consultant Jamie Griffiths and store manager Phil Jamieson, who often accept donations at their office on Ms Night's behalf, organised with their head office to make it happen and contacted their contractor, KDEC.
"Jamie organised KDEC to come out for a quote, and we put it out there to supporters to cover costs and received the money within hours," Ms Knight said.
"Then KDEC contacted us and said they would like to do it for free.
"They're also putting a power-point in, which is great, because if I'm here for eight or nine hours, my phone dies."
KDEC yesterday donated the time of two electricians and AWM Electrical put forward the materials.
Ms Knight said Storage King would cover electricity costs, allowing every dollar given to Tots2Teens to go to the purchasing of goods for packs.
"Since day-dot, we couldn't have done it without them," she said.
"There's a toilet, there's security - I feel safe when I'm here on my own.
"It means our volunteers can be here in bad weather and after-dark if needed.
IN OTHER NEWS:
"It's just such a positive example of the community working together."
Tots2Teens has expanded into additional sheds as their operations have increased, supporting children being placed in foster care, children affected by family violence and young mothers.
"We've got goods split into the age groups of naught to five, five to 10 and 10 and above," Ms Knight said.
"It just means they can leave with something."