TRIPLE G’s Friendship and Birthday Club held their annual Christmas celebration on December 9, inviting their family, friends and support workers for a Christmas lunch at the Green Frog Hollow in Logan Village.
The group was set up by Chris Grant, Christopher Gaunt and Emma Gordon-Smith and their families to allow the young adults who all have a disability, the opportunity to go out and socialise with their friends without having to tag along with their parents.
With NDIS funding, Chris, Christopher and Emma employed a facilitator, Fiona Vellnagel, who helped set up the group, which increased to about 20 members.
Mr Gaunt’s mother Lorraine said Ms Vellnagel had created a closed Facebook page and organised the outings for the group.
“At each gathering, birthdays of the members are celebrated with cake and much fun,” she said.
“For the Christmas celebration, the triple G’s members invite their families and support workers and families who mentor them throughout the year.
“This year, the Christmas celebration was attended by nearly 70 people.”
Ms Gaunt said Triple G’s members also collected donations at the gathering to put together a Christmas hamper for a local family who are struggling at this special time of the year.
Read more: Disability dinner creates charity hamper
Last Christmas the group presented a hamper to a family on the north side of Brisbane who lost everything in a fire and only found out after their house burned down that they had no insurance.
“This year, the hamper was donated to the Smith family, Jacob, Riley and Kane who recently lost both parents and are now facing their first Christmas on their own,” she said.
Chris and Christopher delivered the hamper personally to the Smith brothers.
Oldest brother Jacob, 22, said the group was very kind in choosing them to receive the hamper.
“They are very kind and unselfish people who just want to help out whenever they can,” he said.
“Our parents both passed away in the space of a month due to illness and as a result my 17-year-old brother Riley and 15-year-old brother Kane had to move into my house under my care.
“The Triple Gs saw our Go Fund Me page and saw we were doing it tough so they found a way to contact us.
“Chris and Christopher were both impressed by Jacob’s maturity and genuine gratitude and the Triple G’s family wish the Smith family all the very best for this Christmas and many more to come.”
The Go Fund Me page can be found at gofundme.com/band-together-for-the-smith-bros.
