St Vincent de Paul Society NSW is calling on the Armidale community to donate generously as locals prepare to brave the cold on Friday night as part of the 2024 NSW Vinnies Community Sleepout.
The Society is looking to raise $31,000 from the event which will go towards the Vinnies Start Fresh Community Connections Program, supporting and empowering people who have engaged with Freeman House in Armidale to achieve their recovery goals.
This project assists people to re-engage with their local community, help individuals build a new, safe and healthy social network and assist people to establish a safe, secure and stable living environment for them and their families.
Armidale Ex Services Club will be matching all donations made to the Armidale Vinnies Community Sleepout on Wednesday 28 August up to $5,000.
“Events like the NSW Vinnies Community Sleepout draw attention to the widespread challenges faced by communities as well as the ability for people to make a difference at a local level,” said Sarah Wilson, St Vincent de Paul Society NSW North West Regional Director.
“The Society is present in over 400 communities across the state and provides a range of assistance including food, clothing, household bills, accommodation and much more every day through our programs and services.
“We encourage everyone who is in a position to give to make a donation to enable the work we do in the community every day.”
Close to 100,000 people sought assistance from St Vincent de Paul Society NSW members in the past year with four-in-five requesting assistance with food and one-in-three seeking support for the first time.
“Our members and services are seeing significant demand for assistance and are depending upon the funds raised on Friday night to meet the growing need that exists,” said Ms Wilson.
“It will be a cold night on Friday as participants brave single-digit temperatures with little more than some cardboard and a cup of soup. This is only one night for the people taking part – many people in our community do not have that privilege and depend upon our members and services.”
More than 40 participants in Armidale will sleep out at the University of New England – Sport @ UNE Gymnasium, with events also held in Albury, Greater Sydney, Tweed Heads and Wagga Wagga on Friday 30 August.
The Society thanks Armidale Ex Services Club, Roberts and Morrow, Rotary Club of Armidale, Scott Group, Sport UNE, Rapid Relief Team for their support of the NSW Vinnies Community Sleepout.
People can donate to the NSW Vinnies Community Sleepout at www.vinnies.org.au/communitysleepout.
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