Thousands raised for Rooty Hill locals on Struggle Street
Sydney ANGLICARE recently launched their annual Winter Appeal at their corporate fundraiser – A Winter’s Tale. The focus for this year’s event was emergency relief for those struggling to afford the basics, and support for the homeless youth of Sydney.
CEO of Sydney ANGLICARE, Peter Kell, said A Winter’s Tale and the launch of ANGLICARE’s annual Winter Appealwas an opportunity where businesses and individuals alike, could partner with ANGLICARE to help improve the quality of life for their community and society in general.
“This really gives people and corporations a chance to make a difference in the lives of those who have been marginalised; to help relationships to be healed and to assist communities to grow stronger,” Mr Kell said.
Numerous representatives of high level corporations including the Reserve Bank of Australia, Telstra, KPMG and Naritas attended A Winter’s Tale.
They demonstrated their understanding and dedication to Corporate Social Responsibility by raising a total of $232, 000 for ANGLICARE - Sydney.
The money raised will be directed towards three ANGLICARE services, one of which is located in the Rooty Hill area.
ANGLICARE’S Emergency Relief Program based in Rooty Hill helps struggling families and individuals to stay on their feet during tough times, through the provision of food parcels and financial help.
The Emergency Relief program also assists people living in the Blacktown, Penrith and Hawkesbury areas.
Emergency relief assistance is provided in various forms, including food, gas and electricity vouchers, through to providing financial support for rent and funeral payments.
Rooty Hill Emergency Relief Team Leader, Felicia Fitzgerald, said the money raised at A Winter’s Tale will go towards helping the Emergency Relief Centre support their clients and retain their staff.
“The funds raised will allow us to purchase food and blankets, as well as provide cheques when required, and considering we receive no government funding for staff or administrative costs, it will allow for the continued employment of staff to operate the ER programs” Mrs Fitzgerald said.
ANGLICARE Sydney’s research shows the Rooty Hill Emergency Relief Centre sees approximately 15-20 people a day, tragically this is the same amount of people they have to turn away each day, due to a lack of resources, staff and funding.
Team Leader, Felicia Fitzgerald, said the people who receive assistance from the Emergency Relief Centre are often stereotyped as users of the welfare system, but this assumption is far from the truth.
“The people we support don’t seek assistance by choice. They are people in need, like a mum fleeing a situation of domestic violence, an old man who comes in more for the company and a chat than a parcel of food, and a family who lives far away and travels into Sydney for specialist medical help.” she said.
“We hope that by providing a professional support service we can reduce the poverty and hardship of people living in our local community.”
Money raised at A Winter’s Tale will also go towards two ANGLICARE services offered to youth who reside in the Parramatta area.
The Street Outreach Program will receive funds to help them continue to feed, clothe, encourage and support homeless youths or youths at risk of becoming homeless aged between12 -25.
The Carramar Early Interventions Program will also receive funds to help them continue to provide accommodation, emotional and parental support to pregnant and/or parenting mums aged 15 – 25.
