PICTURE ABOVE: The Helping Hand volunteer Lynne Henty, Robert Geale of Roberts Real Estate Longford and Helping Hand garden coordinator David Gibson.
The pressures of winter are beginning to bite for those who are already struggling to afford to pay for heating, rent, food and fuel and Longford-based charity The Helping Hand is ramping up efforts to cater for a growing number of clients.
Last week it launched a Winter Appeal that it hopes will fully stock the shelves and give its dedicated band of volunteers the means to assist families in the Cressy, Perth, Devon Hills, Poatina, Evandale, Bishopsbourne, Bracknell and Longford areas.
“We just don’t want people to fall through the cracks,” volunteer Barb Baker said.
“We’re assisting up to 200 people at the moment and if we work together we can make sure no-one goes hungry or is in a situation where they can’t afford to wash clothes or drive their children where they need to go.
“We need non-perishable food items, toiletries, washing powder – any basic essential items that most of us take for granted.”
The Helping Hand office in the middle of Longford at 2 Marlborough St, keeps a good stock of bread donated by Banjos and fresh vegetables donated by local gardeners, as well as a pantry full of essential items.
She said even those who use the service bring in anything they have in excess to exchange for what they need.
Robin Ralph of Longford said he’s been grateful for the assistance he’s received when he’s been struggling so when he visited a friend with a potato farm at Trowatta, he made sure he brought back a big box of dutch creams to leave in the pantry.
Making it easier to donate goods is the support or Roberts Real Estate, just a few doors along at 18 Marlborough St, which is willing to accept donations of any kind when The Helping Hand office is shut.
Real Estate agent Robert Geale said he would even happily meet people on the weekends if that suited for a drop-off.
“We’re also committed to donating $1000 out of our commission from the sale of a property when any of our vendors nominate The Helping Hand as their charity of choice.
“I think everyone can find a way to be more generous if they try and it will make a huge difference.”
The Helping Hand is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 10am-12pm and offers emergency relief for people in the form of food, budgeting, rent, power, pharmacy, petrol, legal documents and navigating government services. They can be contacted on 63912498.
For online donations the bank details are: BSB: 067-024 A/c No. 28006143.