Salvation Army Ballarat's leaders are calling on members of the community to help vulnerable people in need of support by donating to the Red Shield Appeal.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
North Ballarat Sports Club hosted a breakfast event to launch the appeal on Wednesday morning.
The Red Shield Appeal is Salvation Army's major nationwide fundraising campaign that runs throughout May and June, with the national doornkock on the last weekend in May.
Greater Ballarat Red Shield Appeal committee chairperson Vicki Coltman said the team was aiming to raise $60,000 in Ballarat, with all funds donated in the region allocated to funding local programs.
"The appeal is about all of us working in our community to support those who are the most vulnerable," she said.
Salvation Army staff spoke at the launch about programs the Red Shield Appeal funding supports in Ballarat, including the Mothers and Children program, occasional childcare and mentoring for young people.
It is about all of us working in our community to support those who are the most vulnerable.
- Vicki Coltman, Red Shield Appeal Ballarat committee chair
SalvoConnect Ballarat Mothers and Children Program provides accommodation for single mothers and their children experiencing homelessness.
Case manager Susanne Barnett said staff focused on teaching mothers to care for their babies and children and addressing the causes of homelessness.
She said it was challenging to build trust and relationships with families during the pandemic with restricted face to face access, but staff continued to connect through phone calls and dropping off essential items.
Salvation Army Ballarat Child and Youth Services team leader Louise Jeffrey said the occasional childcare program which only paused for five-weeks when COVID first hit, provided stability and support to low income families.
Another program funded by the appeal is LARF, which matches young people facing economic and social disadvantage with trained young adult volunteers who provide guidance and friendship.
The program volunteers worked hard to maintain connections and prevent social isolation during the pandemic last year through letter writing, as online video calls were not accessible for many young people.
Ms Jeffrey said all participants returned to face to face sessions of the program this year which helped with their re-integration into the community.
"Some young people had become so isolated and anxious they barely left the house and were disengaged from school," she said.
"They all returned to the LARF program which helped with their re-integration into the community."
The theme of this year's Red Shield Appeal is homelessness and supporting Salvation Army programs that provide individual responses to the needs of people in crisis.
A video played at the launch revealed for every homeless person seen on the street, there were 13 more people experiencing homelessness you could not see.
Salvation Army Divisional Commander for Victoria Lieutenant Colonel David Godkin said housing insecurity had risen in the past year, due to the bushfires and the coronavirus pandemic.
"We continue to find ourselves unable to meet the increasing demand in the community," he said.
Lieutenant Colonel Godkin said Salvation Army worked to address people's individual needs including accommodation, food, clothing and counselling.
The charity helped 3500 clients in Ballarat in the last year, with 400 of those clients new to the service during the pandemic.
Three times the number of females presented asking for help than males.
"Our mission is to give hope where it is needed most and we know we cannot do it without you," Salvation Army Ballarat Corps Officer Graham Kennedy said.
You can support the Red Shield Appeal by donating or volunteering. Visit salvationarmy.org.au/red-shield-appeal/.
Have you signed up to The Courier's variety of news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in Ballarat.