The financial and social fallout from the coronavirus pandemic has seen a surge in demand for support and welfare services.
“We anticipate seeing some of the greatest need that we’ve ever seen in our 132-year history serving Echuca-Moama,” Auxiliary Lieutenant Sonia Edwards said.
“The COVID-19 crisis has financially crippled many Australians and it will take months to see the real impact it will have.
“Right now, we are working with our local community, as we have always done, to ensure we leave no-one in need.
“This includes the people we have always been helping who are living in extreme hardship, people who have never needed us before the devastating impacts of this pandemic and the people who have never felt so isolated and alone as they do right now.”
As such, supporting the Red Shield Appeal is important as ever.
However, after more than 55 years of knocking on doors each May, The Salvation Army is taking the campaign digital in response to the COVID-19 impact on social contact.
“Raising money this year has become more urgent due to the coronavirus and its impact on our economy,” Aux. Lt Edwards said.
“Because of the pandemic, we are not able to do any face to face collecting so we have moved the appeal online to do a virtual ‘Door-knock’ where you can invite friends and family to give to our work here in the Echuca-Moama area, including Cohuna and Mathoura.”
The Echuca Salvos hope to enlist 40 virtual collectors to sign up and fundraise for the Red Shield Appeal Digital Doorknock this month to help meet the challenging times ahead.
“The money raised will stay in our Echuca-Moama communities and will help fund our vision - to provide a community hub in partnership with other agencies in our area bringing us all together to provide holistic care options to those who need our support,” Aux. Lt Edwards said.
“Last year, Echuca-Moama raised just under $12,000 and because of the amazing generosity we were able to buy $6000 worth of toys and food for 186 children (68 families) for Christmas and $3000 worth of swags for the homeless and cupboards for storing non-perishable food for the hungry.
“We are asking our local community to partner with us to provide the critical care needed as we face these challenging times. We know when the chips are down, Aussies come together and do what they can to give hope, this is no more important than now.
“I would like to thank those who have already signed up to join our team to help us fundraise and for the donations we have received already.
People can become digital fundraisers by going to digitaldoorknock.salvationarmy.org.au/t/echuca-moama-salvos
For information, contact Sonia on 0427 666 155 or email Sonia.edwards@salvationarmy.org.au
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