The Trustees of the Society of St Vincent de Paul (NSW) ABN: 46 472 591 335 Ozanam Village 2C West Street Lewisham NSW 2049 PO Box 5 Petersham NSW 2049
Press release May 25, 2009
Telephone: (02) 9560 8666 Facsimile: (02) 9550 9383
Vinnies Launch Winter Appeal to Make Tomorrow Different …
Email: vinnies@vinnies.org.au Website: www.vinnies.org.au Donation Hotline: 13 18 12
The St Vincent de Paul Society has launched its 2009 Winter Appeal with the theme “Tomorrow can be different”. “The reality is that for countless Australians today is very tough,” the CEO of the St Vincent de Paul Society NSW, John Picot, said in launching the appeal. “It’s a desperate struggle, filled with disadvantage and despair. For many, any sense of hope has become a distant memory. But tomorrow can be different. With the generous support of others it can become a day of dignity and new beginnings.” Vinnies asked hundreds of men, women and children overwhelmed by life’s hardships to contribute to a collective journal describing in words or pictures what today meant to them. The result is a powerful document detailing the loneliness, depression and fear that can accompany poverty. The TODAY journal will be on display at the NSW State Library as part of the World Photographic Exhibition from May 29 – 31 and available for loan from June 1. Some of the entries include a young child who has drawn her family home within a love heart that is overshadowed by black clouds; a father who has provided a rubbing of the meager 35 cents he has left with which to feed his family and a man who has portrayed his face as a geometric web of depression. “The images in the journal give a powerful insight into the very private thoughts of people for whom life is not going well,” Mr Picot said. “And sadly that is an ever increasing number. More and more Australians are turning to us for assistance as the economic situation worsens. Families that never imagined it could happen to them are literally finding themselves homeless for the first time, unable to survive any longer within the private rental or housing market. “Others are managing to just drag themselves from one pay day to the next, but finding themselves slipping more and more behind. The worry and stress is taking a huge toll. We are assisting people from a far wider spectrum of society than ever before.” In some areas, such as Broken Hill, the number of people seeking assistance from Vinnies has risen more than 300 percent. Mr Picot said without financial donations from generous Australians Vinnies would not be able to continue to support the homeless and women and children fleeing family violence; offer budget counseling; mental health support; refugee services; clothing and food provision; education programs and financial aid. The Vinnies Winter Appeal in NSW aims to raise $5 million. Credit Card donations can be made at vinnies.org.au or on 13 18 12. As part of the Winter Appeal, Vinnies is holding the CEO Sleepout at Luna Park on June 18. Already 80 business leaders have registered to spend one night sleeping rough to support the homeless. To register or sponsor a CEO or donate, go to www.ceosleepout.org.au. For more information contact; Marion Frith, Communications officer, St Vincent de Paul Society, on 0417 446 430 Every day in NSW the Society assists thousands of people through Home Visitation, Migrant and Refugee Assistance, Hospital and Prison Visitation, Aged Care Services, Vinnies Centres, Supported Employment Services for People with an Intellectual Disability, Hostels for Homeless Men, Women and Families, Overseas Relief, Disaster Recovery, Budget Counselling and Youth Programs.