Happy Hands for Uganda was formed by a group of ladies at the nursing home, with the women coming together to make items which were sold at a fundraising day at the home on Thursday.
Beaded necklaces, knitted blankets and assorted items were on sale at the home with all the proceeds raised from the day going towards Smiling Hearts Uganda.
Mercy Place Shepparton pastoral carer and co-founder of Smiling Hearts Uganda Loretta Lilford said the organisation held a special place in her heart.
“I visited Uganda in 2016 and I noticed the life of disabled children is nothing short of horrific,” she said.
“With a beautiful Ugandan girl we co-founded Smiling Hearts ... and we have now set up a centre where we offer vocational skills training and a home to youth and children who would otherwise have had a life of abandonment or slavery.”
The building which houses the Smiling Hearts Centre in Uganda comes up for sale in August next year and Ms Lilford said the team were on a mission to purchase the centre.
Ms Lilford said the residents at Mercy Place were happy to come on board with the fundraising, offering to organise a day to raise money for the children supported by Smiling Hearts Uganda and those who where less fortunate than themselves.
“(The residents) have been so excited and their joy in doing something they love but also knowing they’re actually helping these kids, it's been beautiful,” she said.
“There has just been so much excitement leading up to this day, I'm ever so proud of them and of course I have a beautiful connection to Uganda so it’s a beautiful day for me.”
To find out more about Smiling Hearts Uganda visit www.smilingheartsuganda.org.au
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