Echuca Moama Community Projects co-ordinator Julie Langdon.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
The team at Echuca Moama Community Projects is encouraging the community to rally behind its annual coat and blanket drive.
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The drive provides coats and blankets to community members who are struggling to source them during winter due to personal circumstances.
Echuca Moama Community Projects co-ordinator Julie Langdon said the donations were a small comfort to people in tough situations.
“It’s based around the cost of living, there’s people doing it tough out there,” she said.
“Homelessness seems to be more prominent in Echuca now... we just figured if they got a coat, a couple of blankets to keep warm, it's going to be a lot nicer for them.
“We literally get hundreds of items come through the door, and we don't have a lot left at the end of the program.
“I keep saying when they stop coming, I'll stop doing it, but they keep coming.”
The drive is not just for people with tough living situations, but also for those who may not be able to afford new winter items or who are trying to save on a power bill by sleeping with a few extra blankets.
People are welcome to take a look through the selection of sizes and blankets, however volunteers will be on-hand to quickly find items for people who want to be in and out fast.
There will also be a coffee station on the collection days for those who want a warm drink and, for the first time, a soup kitchen will be on-site.
Tyrese Baker, Troy Jarrett, Chelsea Beer, Mark Baker and Birylie Salan from U-Choose Support Services will be lending a hand to Julie Langdon.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
The soup kitchen is a new addition to the drive and will be run by a team from U-Choose Support Services, led by support worker Troy Jarrett.
Before moving into the support sector two years ago, Mr Jarrett was a trained chef.
Aside from being a support worker, he also runs a cooking program with U-Choose clients and decided to tie the cooking program in with Ms Langdon’s coat drive.
Mr Jarrett said it was a chance to give back to the community while encouraging social interaction among clients.
“It’s something for the people who are less fortunate and struggling, to sort of come along and (enjoy) a bit of a social interaction as well,” he said.
“It’s a chance too for our guys with disabilities to sort of see the other side of things... and just a bit of a feel-good community spirit thing.”
Troy Jarrett, Mark Baker and Tyrese Baker are part of the U-Choose cooking program.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
The team will be preparing the food on Tuesdays out of the Bar Lee kitchen before serving up the meals on Thursday during the drive.
The menu will include some winter favourites, such as pumpkin soup, a pumpkin-based pasta, bolognese and minestrone.
There will also be takeaway containers of meals for those who want to take some food home.
Ms Langdon said all donations were welcome as long as they’re ‘clean and unwanted’ and in good condition.
While there is usually a good range of donations, there is a need for kids’ coats and larger sized coats.
If you would like to make a coat or blanket donation, they can be dropped to St Mary’s Parish Hall, the Riverine Herald, Echuca Neighbourhood House, Moama Grammar and Twin Rivers Primary School during the month of June.
The drive will be held every Thursday throughout the month of June at St Mary’s Parish, Echuca from 10am to 2pm.
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