Salvos need more than seven helpers and a dog
Donations to the Red Shield Appeal ensure The Salvation Army can continue to support thousands of people experiencing crisis every day.
The Salvation Army works in the areas of greatest need including homelessness, family violence, emergency relief, addiction and disaster response.
Salvation Army volunteers will mobilise in the community to help collect $8 million across Australia for the annual Red Shield Appeal.
In a typical week across the nation, The Salvation Army provides 100,000 meals, 2000 beds for people experiencing homelessness, distributes up to 8000 grocery vouchers and provides refuge for 500 people fleeing abuse.
Lieutenant Amanda Hart of the Salvation Army’s Warragul Corps said volunteers would mobilise at intersections, local supermarkets and post offices and markets to collect money for the appeal.
“There’ll be less of the door knocking,” she said.
“With people generally not home on a Sunday, we’ll be having more of a presence in the community.
“It’s also about building relationships with the community.
“What we do can’t be done without the support of the local community, so we need to build relationships so that people can donate, which allows us to do more.”
The Warragul Corps began collecting for the appeal yesterday with a Bunnings barbecue. Volunteers will have a presence at local intersections, along with supermarkets and post offices in Warragul and Drouin.
Local volunteers will also have a presence in Yarragon, collecting from the newsagency and at the market.
Lieutenant Hart said it was important to note that all volunteers would carry a lanyard with identification, Salvation Army bags or tins and a receipt book.
Donations can also be made by phoning 137258, online at salvos.org.au, in person at any Westpac branch or by posting your cheque to PO Box 9888, Melbourne 3000.
Salvation Army Warragul Corp Captain Angela Locke said the Warragul Corps would welcome more volunteers to assist in conducting the appeal locally.
“There are plenty of opportunities to volunteer out in the community,” she said.
To volunteer, phone the Warragul Corps on 5623 1090 and leave a message if required.
Meanwhile, the Warragul Corps will also host a sleepout on Saturday, May 27 to raise awareness and money to assist with homelessness.
Captain Locke said more participants would be welcomed by the seven people and dog currently registered to take part.
To register or to donate, visit the fundraising website www.salvosfundraising.org.au/warragulsalvos.
A $585,000 meals and wheels contract with Mannix College has been renewed by Baw Baw Shire.
Council has accepted a $585,900 tender from Mannix College and another tender from Neerim District Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital valued at $25,200 to supply meals and wheels across the municipality.
Mannix College took over the previous contract from West Gippsland Hospital almost five years ago.
Mannix will provide meals to the majority of the shire while NDSMH will cater for Neerim district residents.
Officers said council currently provided a subsidised delivered meals service to the frail, aged and people with a disability to enable them to remain living at home as independently as possible and to meet their nutritional needs.
“Mannix College and Neerim District Soldiers Memorial Hospital are known and tested providers of meals for council and could seamlessly continue the supply of meals with minimal support from council officer,” the report said.
The current contract ends on June 30. The new contract will be a two year contract ending in June 2019.
The report said council would receive about $625,205 income for the service during the two year period including $185,205 grant funding and $440,000 client contributions.
The Aged and Disability Service team receives recurrent annual funding of $92,603 from state and federal governments to provide 27,552 meals.
Cr Jessica O’Donnell said meal recipients contributed to the cost of the delivered meals.
She said meals were delivered by about 400 volunteers a year, five days a week across the municipality and supported more than 220 individuals annually.
Cr O’Donnell said “because of all our volunteers we have a really strong and meaningful meals on wheels service.”
Cr Peter Kostos said this tender came to council a few years ago and the contractor proved to be cost effective.
He said it was pleasing to have Neerim District “come on board with this.”
Cr Tricia Jones said meals on wheels was a necessary and very important to the community.