The Salvation Army Australia is calling on the local community to get involved in this year’s Red Shield Appeal.
The Red Shield Appeal is run over the months of April, May and June each year, with traditionally the national doorknock taking place this weekend, 28 and 29 May.
All funds raised locally will stay local to support services within the community.
Now in its 56th year, the Red Shield Appeal is The Salvos flagship fundraising appeal and is aiming to raise $36 million nationally.
In Victoria the Salvos are aiming to raise $1 million in local collections to be used on the vital services in the local community.
Volunteers from the Salvation Army’s Cranbourne Corps will be rattling the collection tins at both the Casey Central and Cranbourne Park Shopping Centres, as well Bunnings Warehouse at Home.Co Cranbourne.
After a tough few years, communities are still feeling the impacts of multiple disasters and the Covid-19 pandemic.
Michael Wright, Core Officer at the Cranbourne Corps, said the South East is not immune to those issues.
“People are just struggling with day-to-day stuff,” he said. “Coming out of lockdowns, people are struggling to get back on their feet mentally.
“Mental health has been another issue that’s escalated over the last couple of years, along with the norms that we have in society. People living in poverty, homelessness, those issues are still quite significant in these sorts of areas.”
Working with local support agencies such as Community Information and Support Cranbourne, Mr Wright detailed how their assistance helps to address these significant issues.
“We help out, our doorway service, we help out with food in-kind, food parcels, and we have bread and vegetables available daily for people to come in and access.
“We also do a bit of advocacy and see how we can help people in other ways.
“We like to say to people, ‘this is what you can do’. We can help people to understand that there may be ways to pay their bills that they may not know about, like they can pay in instalments, things like that.”
This year The Salvos are highlighting the ‘shadow pandemic’ that’s destroying lives: family and domestic violence.
Sadly, risks of domestic violence have increased in the past 12 months due to economic insecurity.
It’s reported that one in four women in Australia will experience domestic violence in their lifetime, and it is the largest cause of women and children becoming homeless in Australia.
The Salvos need community members to volunteer or support their local Red Shield Appeal in any way they can during May.
All local funds raised will remain in the community to help ensure that no one is left in need.
The appeal received a boost on Friday 20 May thanks to a $150,000 donation by the Victorian Government to help the Salvation Army provide accommodation, legal advice, financial relief, trauma counselling and employment support to women experiencing family violence.
“The Salvation Army makes an incredible contribution to communities right across our state and we are proud to support this year’s Red Shield Appeal,” Victorian Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers Anthony Carbines said.
“We’re encouraging Victorians to dig deep because every donation to this year’s Red Shield Appeal will help to provide crucial support to some of the most vulnerable Victorians when they need it most.”
Major Warren Elliott, Public Relations Secretary for The Salvation Army Victoria, expressed his gratitude to the Salvos’ loyal contributors.
“We’re so grateful to local communities who have always rallied together and supported the Red Shield Appeal year on year,” Mr Elliot said.
“This year is no different – we need the help of community members more than ever as we continue to support those who have felt the devastating impacts of the past couple years.”
Over the past 12 months, The Salvos supported around 5,800 women and children impacted by family and domestic violence nationally.
Each year, through The Salvation Army’s nationwide network of services around: *
● One person is assisted every 17 seconds
● Three people are supported every minute.
● Approximately 887,500 crisis beds are provided to people experiencing homelessness –
including women and children as family and domestic violence is the largest cause of women
and children becoming homeless in Australia.
“We cannot do what we do without you,” Major Elliott said
“If you have the means, please consider becoming a volunteer or donating to the Red Shield Appeal this year. Your generosity and support will help us to leave no one in need.”
To donate or volunteer for The Salvation Army’s Red Shield Appeal, or if you need support from The Salvos, visit salvationarmy.org.au or call 13 SALVOS.
You can also donate at any Salvos Store.
The Salvation Army has a thrift store in Cranbourne at 108 Camms Road, at Home.Co Cranbourne on the South Gippsland Highway, Hamersley Drive in Clyde North, Webb Street, Narre Warren and Hampton Park Shopping Square.
