Wagga businesses are being urged to to open up their cupboards to lend a hand to charity.
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The St Vincent de Paul Society is gearing up for Anti-Poverty Week in October by asking the city’s business community to help out by collecting non-perishable food and toiletries to replenish the stocks Vinnies has to hand out to those needs
The charity’s call for community support comes as figures show it has handed out almost double the amount of assistance for energy bills as it did the previous year.
So far in 2017, $143,100 has gone to help people pay their gas and electricity bills, compared to $77,692 for the same period in 2016.
A total of $34,400 in food vouchers and $48,400 in food parcels and hampers has been given out so far in 2017, compared to the previous year’s $33,443 in food vouchers and $36,522 in food parcels.
Housing assistance, either in the form of rent or crisis accommodation, has amounted to $54,800, with another $6800 in clothing, household items and other goods.
In 2016, there had been $47,650 in accommodation assistance and $15,615 in clothing, household and other goods given out for the same period.
Mike Riley, the executive officer of St Vincent de Paul’s Wagga central council, has written to businesses, asking them to consider two options for lending a land with the collection of goods.
He has suggested a collection involving just staff members, who could donate food and toiletries during Anti-Poverty Week, or going a step further and throwing the collection open to customers.
At the end of the week donations will be accepted at either the St Vincent de Paul care and support centre in Edward Street or the Edel Quinn Shelter.
“The society’s care and support centre is the hub for assistance in our local community,” Mr Riley said.
“The centre is run by our members and volunteers who interview clients - through self-referral and referrals from other organisations - and provide material assistance as well as support and companionship to those in need.”
Mr Riley said that in 2017, Edel Quinn Support Services has assisted more than 120 people with crisis accommodation and a further 161 with other forms of support.
The centre also provides a lunch service for about 20 or 30 people a day.
Businesses wanting to join the St Vincent de Paul campaign should email Renee Cooper at renee.cooper@vinnies.org.au or call her on 02 6923 1905.
Anti-Poverty Week will begin on Sunday, October 15, and aims to strengthen community understanding of the issue.