Trinity Families donate funds
Two Baw Baw charities have received a total of $25,000 from the local Catholic charity Trinity Families as part of its Gippsland program.
Olivia’s Place received $20,000 to expand its mentoring and support program for young families in Baw Baw Shire.
Baw Baw Combined Churches Foodbank’s emergency food supply service in Warragul received $5000.
They were among nine charities that shared in $128,500 in funding, the highest amount distributed in a single year by the philanthropic organisation which was established by the Catholic Diocese of Sale 15 years ago.
In that time it has given more than $1.3 million to charities running programs which benefit families in the Greater Gippsland area.
Trinity Families patron, Bishop of Sale Patrick O’Regan presented the cheques at a morning tea in Warragul last week.
Several organisations providing services in Baw Baw were also funded.
CatholicCare Gippsland received $60,000 to provide free or subsidised family counselling services in the region.
Barrier Breakers benefited by $10,000 for a new program to combat gambling problems among those with mental illness.
Melbourne-based FareShare received $10,000 to extend its free kitchen meal service to more areas of Gippsland.
Executive officer Colin Coomber said Trinity Families was pleased to be effective in its role of supporting other charities to do their valuable work for the community.
A record 20 charities supporting Gippsland families had sought funding totalling $400,000 this year which was an indication of the growing needs within the community.
Mr Coomber said Trinity Families had received a bequest of almost $90,000 last month and while this would boost investments, more donations were needed to help the organisation service more charities in future.