By Victoria Stone-Meadows
The Cranbourne Salvation Army in Cranbourne is getting behind the 2017 Red Shield Appeal in an effort to raise money to combat poverty.
The Salvation Army needs to mobilise more than 60,000 volunteers across Australia on the weekend of 27 and 28 May with an aim of raising $8 million for the appeal.
The appeal allows the Salvos to provide help to the most vulnerable members of the community during Christmas, which can be a desperate and lonely time for many people.
The Cranbourne branch is urging local people to get on board and lend a hand fund-raising, door knocking and donating to the cause.
Cranbourne’s Major Vanessa Evans said the Red Shield Appeal is the perfect time for members of the community to let their generosity shine through.
“We help lots of homeless people in the area and other as well,” she said.
“There is a wide variety of people we help and we always need more volunteers to help on the day; that would be great.”
“We need people to help out walking and door knocking, in shopping centres and intersections, anyone who is able to give few hours, we would be so grateful for.”
The Cranbourne Salvation Army helps out about 100 families a week with that increase to over 250 families a week over the Christmas period.
“If people can give we would really appraise it,” Major Evans said.
“It really does help in the community and goes straight to the least advantaged members and comes back to our roots of helping those most in need.”
On Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 May the Salvos will be out in local communities collecting donations for the Red Shield Appeal.
To volunteer as a collector please call 13 SALVOS (13 72 58) or register online at salvationarmy.org.au/collect
