MEDIA RELEASE 1 February 2009
WEST AUSTRALIAN’S HELP TO ‘COMPLETE CHRISTMAS’ The St Vincent de Paul Society put the call out in November to raise $600,000 for the 2009 Christmas Appeal and ‘help change someone’s Christmas’ and the generous West Australian community responded by donating a grand total of $614,000. The 2009 Christmas period was a very demanding time for the Society with a whopping 59% increase in the amount of client calls to the Metropolitan Call Centre in November and December 2009 compared to the same months in 2008. The figures were significantly higher when comparing the month of December alone with a 93% increase in client calls between 2008 and 2009. Lucinda Ardagh, St Vincent de Paul Society Spokesperson says the need for assistance in the lead up to Christmas is very apparent and the Society’s volunteers worked around the clock to deliver as much welfare as possible. “Over 1,000 food hampers were distributed from the Society’s warehouse in Belmont to families and individuals in need in the lead up to Christmas with many hundreds more going directly to people homes from our ‘Conferences’ within the community,” Lucinda says. “The Society received a great deal of support from the business community, Perth schools and volunteers. The Christmas Appeal is a team effort and without the man power, the material goods and the financial support we would not be able to help families get through the expensive festive season.” “Thank you to all who donated and gave their time to the 2009 Christmas Appeal. Thanks to you, someone’s Christmas was complete and with the ‘hand up’ received through the provision of food, clothing, household goods and help with utility bills, the circle of disadvantage can be broken and change lives for the better,” Lucinda says. The funds raised for the 2009 Christmas Appeal will assist the Society to respond to calls for welfare from the community between now and the start of the Winter Appeal in May. In WA there are close to 14,000 people homeless every night with 100,000 people homeless Australia wide. To donate to the Society call 13 18 12 or log on to www.vinnies.org.au Media Contacts: Communications Coordinator: Deana Tesoriero (08) 9475 5426 or 0404 086 054 Media Spokesperson: Lucinda Ardagh (08) 9475 5427 or 0403 322 238