Handy helpersDandenong RSL’s John Filmer hands over the goods to Cate Altanura who will travel to Ug

By Melissa Meehan
DANDENONG RSL is well known for helping the local community and lending a hand to those in need.
Last month the RSL sent care packages to Australian troops in Afghanistan, but this week, with the help from charity Helping Ugandan Generations (HUGS), they were able to provide clothing for hundreds of Ugandan children.
Dandenong RSL’s aged-care community and volunteer co-ordinator John Filmer said the RSL was approached by a company that said they would donate hundreds of articles of clothing and other apparel to a country in need outside of Australia.
“We were given a number of shirts, caps, drinking mugs – all Australian made – with one condition; that we donate it to people outside Australia,” he said.
“I had a chat to Cate and it seemed like the perfect charity to make the donation.”
Cate Altanura, HUG director and founder, said she was excited to be receiving the goods.
“A donation like this goes to show that people do care,” she said.
“It will clothe so many people and give them some hope that people on the other side of the world care about their situation.”
She will travel with the goods to Uganda on 10 March spending six weeks in Africa.
“I will personally deliver the goods, I prefer to be there when it is given out,” she said.