Salvation Army needs volunteers

The Salvation Army has encouraged Wimmera people to support Australia’s biggest annual doorknocking campaign, the Red Shield Appeal, by volunteering their time or donating.

The appeal will be on the weekend of May 25 and 26, and organisers have set a donation target of $8-million nationally.

All money raised by the Red Shield Appeal goes towards the Salvation Army’s charitable efforts, including helping Australians affected by natural disasters and the rising cost of living.

Ararat Salvation Army captain Greg Turnbull said the organisation had helped more than 38,000 people experiencing homelessness during the past 12 months.

In the same period the Salvation Army also helped 14,000 people struggling with addiction, provided more than 50,000 financial counselling sessions, cared for 5000 people experiencing family violence, and assisted more than 150,000 people with emergency relief.

Mr Turnbull said more volunteers were needed to help the Salvation Army provide its services. Ararat captain Lynne Turnbull said the Red Shield Appeal was a fun and simple way Australians could really make a difference in alleviating the hardship being faced by so many people, right across the nation.

“Hardship does not discriminate. More Australians from all walks of life are turning to the Salvation Army for help and we need the public’s support now to ensure we can continue to help those doing it tough,” she said.

“The Salvos can only continue to meet the needs of people in the Wimmera with the support of volunteers.”

People can volunteer for or donate to this year’s Red Shield Appeal by calling 13 72 58 or register online at salvationarmy.org.au.

People in Stawell and Ararat can call Greg Turnbull 0459 400 256 and people in Horsham can call their local Salvation Army branch on 5382 1770 for more information.