By Alesha Capone
The Rotary Club of Wyndham Harbour has donated a large amount of clothing and sleeping bags to Uniting Wyndham.
Some of the clothing will be sent to Uniting Wyndham’s emergency relief centre, to be given to vulnerable residents during the coronavirus pandemic.
Uniting Wyndham’s volunteer programs co-ordinator Shelley Johnston said the donated clothing included business shirts and pants, jackets, t-shirts and high-vis vests.
Ms Johnston said this meant people who contacted Uniting for assistance, after losing their job, would be able to receive a formal shirt for a job interview or a hi-vis shirt to start a new job on a worksite.
She said some of the clothing would also be sold through Uniting’s opportunity shops, with the funds going towards other programs to help people experiencing disadvantage.
The donated sleeping bags would be provided to vulnerable people in the community.
“We want to say that we are very grateful to the Rotary Club of Wyndham Harbour for the donations, they are very important and will be going to people in need,” Ms Johnston said.
Uniting Wyndham is part of Uniting Vic.Tas, which has been delivering community services for more than 100 years.
Uniting Vic.Tas emergency relief lead Cathryn Ryan said increasing numbers of people who had lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 lockdown were asking for emergency assistance.
“We’ve been seeing newly unemployed people, families, many of whom have been unable to access Jobseeker or Jobkeeper payments, including migrants on working visas, international students and people seeking asylum,” Ms Ryan said.
Ms Ryan urged Wyndham residents in crisis to reach out and seek help, particularly young people and families at risk of becoming homeless.
To contact Uniting Wyndham’s emergency relief services phone 9051 2000 or visit 19 Duncans Road, Werribee.
