APPEAL COMING TO A DESK NEAR YOU

THE annual Red Shield Appeal is Australia’s biggest door knock fundraiser but this year Gold Coasters can chip in from their office desk with a new Salvation Army approach.

A Salvation Army “desk knock” is being trialled on the Gold Coast and has already seen 35 offices register to help raise money for the charity.

It involves sending fundraising buckets into offices around the city and a staff member taking charge of collecting donations.

Salvation Army relationship manager Rowan Johnstone said initiatives like the desk knock were vital to helping the Salvation Army support local services such as homeless shelters.

“The desk knock is a fun and simple way that businesses can really make a difference in alleviating the hardship being faced by so many people,” Mr Johnstone said.

One of the local businesses joining the fundraising is Southport’s Apple Marketing Group.

Apple Marketing Group trainer and fundraiser Andre van Dalen said the appeal was important for the Salvation Army and needed to be supported.

“It is really important we get behind the organisation because of the tremendous work they do for the community,” he said.