Giving young mums a home

Lighthouse Foundation
Kind. Determined. Proactive

Michelle Power has transformed the lives of vulnerable young mothers and their babies through her work with the Lighthouse Foundation.

Michelle was inspired to volunteer with the non-profit after opening her home to a homeless young mother who has a young son and realising she wanted to help more young people in need.

She now works alongside the young parents’ program for the foundation, which offers young people experiencing homelessness and neglect a place to live while they heal and receive support to move on to a brighter future.

Her trusted volunteer team provides physical, emotional and financial support to three young mums and four children who live together in one of the foundation’s 10 homes.

They take on the role of family, helping them feel cared for and loved, including sitting down with them for Christmas dinner.

Seeing the smiles on the young girls’ faces and knowing their future is safe is all the reward Michelle needs.

She is honoured to be nominated as a Westfield Local Hero. “I don’t do this work for the recognition, and I feel like my work with the Lighthouse is really only beginning. Volunteering allows me to do kind things for others every day, which gives me great personal fulfilment,” she says.

Westfield Local Heroes are nominated and voted for by their communities, with the three top finalists per Westfield centre each awarded a $10,000 grant for their affiliated organisation. Org will..

For further information on the Westfield Local Heroes program, click here