ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY REPORT
Catholic Communications, Sydney Archdiocese,
11 Dec 2012
For more than 120,000 men, women and children across NSW, Christmas this year will be bleak. Hard pressed to pay rent, utility bills, food and bus fares, there is nothing left over for a turkey or festive dinner let alone gifts under the tree for their children.
Determined to transform despair into hope, St Vincent de Paul Society NSW is pulling out all the stops as part of its annual Christmas Appeal to ensure these families not only enjoy Christmas but that each receives a hamper filled with goodies for their Christmas dinner and gift-wrapped presents for their children.
"Vinnies is seeing first-hand the dire impact of the increased cost of living on families and individuals and are expecting a big rise in the numbers of those looking for assistance," says Michael Perusco, CEO of Vinnies NSW adding that many of the men and women and families who are turning to Vinnies for help, are doing so for the first time.
"We are very concerned about the long term impact of cost of living pressures. There is no question the current situation is undermining the ability of many Australians to care for their families and to feel socially included," he says.
The immediate concern at Vinnies, however, is helping those in desperate need have the sort of Christmas most of us enjoy.
"As many of us prepare to celebrate the festive season with family and friends, there are countless Australians facing the prospect of a grim Christmas as they struggle to pay bills, provide food and basic necessities for their children, or worse find somewhere safe to call home," he says.
Each year at this time, Vinnies launches its annual Christmas Appeal and calls on those of us who are more fortunate to donate whatever we can afford to help those who are battling just to survive.
"Only through the goodwill and generosity of our supporters can Vinnies help people who are facing a bleak Christmas. In fact this Christmas alone we will be reaching to well over 100,000 people in NSW. It is a huge task but with the community's support, we can make a difference to people's lives," Mr Perusco says.
Christmas should be a joyous time when filled with hope we celebrate the birth of Our Lord. But for many across Sydney and the rest of NSW, instead of hope there is despondency and despair and fear for the future.
Donations to Vinnies Christmas Appeal not only go towards providing families and individuals in need with hampers filled with festive food and gifts for children who would otherwise wakeup with nothing but also give financial assistance - helping out with rents, bills, clothing and other essentials over the Christmas and holiday period.
Last year in the weeks between November 2011 to January 2012 Vinnies members provided more than $4.1 million in assistance to men, women and children on the margins including $2.1 million in food vouchers.
During this same period, Vinnies also provided $853,000 in energy bill vouchers.
In 2012 the need is even greater with the costs of living rising even further and more people battling redundancies or under employment having been made casual but no longer receiving enough shiftwork to keep them and their families heads above water.
To make a life changing donation to 2012 Vinnies Christmas Appeal log on to www.vinnies.org.au.
Catholic Communications, Sydney Archdiocese,
11 Dec 2012
Donations go towards gifts, christmas hampers and help with rent, bills and food
Determined to transform despair into hope, St Vincent de Paul Society NSW is pulling out all the stops as part of its annual Christmas Appeal to ensure these families not only enjoy Christmas but that each receives a hamper filled with goodies for their Christmas dinner and gift-wrapped presents for their children.
"Vinnies is seeing first-hand the dire impact of the increased cost of living on families and individuals and are expecting a big rise in the numbers of those looking for assistance," says Michael Perusco, CEO of Vinnies NSW adding that many of the men and women and families who are turning to Vinnies for help, are doing so for the first time.
"We are very concerned about the long term impact of cost of living pressures. There is no question the current situation is undermining the ability of many Australians to care for their families and to feel socially included," he says.
Giving to Vinnies will help turn despair into hope this Christmas
"As many of us prepare to celebrate the festive season with family and friends, there are countless Australians facing the prospect of a grim Christmas as they struggle to pay bills, provide food and basic necessities for their children, or worse find somewhere safe to call home," he says.
Each year at this time, Vinnies launches its annual Christmas Appeal and calls on those of us who are more fortunate to donate whatever we can afford to help those who are battling just to survive.
"Only through the goodwill and generosity of our supporters can Vinnies help people who are facing a bleak Christmas. In fact this Christmas alone we will be reaching to well over 100,000 people in NSW. It is a huge task but with the community's support, we can make a difference to people's lives," Mr Perusco says.
Christmas should be a joyous time when filled with hope we celebrate the birth of Our Lord. But for many across Sydney and the rest of NSW, instead of hope there is despondency and despair and fear for the future.
Every child deserves to receive a gift on Christmas Day
Last year in the weeks between November 2011 to January 2012 Vinnies members provided more than $4.1 million in assistance to men, women and children on the margins including $2.1 million in food vouchers.
During this same period, Vinnies also provided $853,000 in energy bill vouchers.
In 2012 the need is even greater with the costs of living rising even further and more people battling redundancies or under employment having been made casual but no longer receiving enough shiftwork to keep them and their families heads above water.
To make a life changing donation to 2012 Vinnies Christmas Appeal log on to www.vinnies.org.au.
SHARED FROM ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY
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