Local Communities Supporting Locals in Need

Across NSW there are more than 4,000 members and 9,000 volunteers helping Vinnies make a difference in local communities every day. The dedication of our network allows us to keep costs low and in turn help more people that need our support.

To ensure we can continue supporting people doing it tough through this time, NSW Vinnies Community Sleepout events are being held throughout the state on Friday, October 23.

How You Can Take Part

Following on from the success of the first Vinnies CEO Sleepout held virtually back in June, NSW Vinnies Community Sleepouts will follow a similar model with people nominating to sleep out for the night in their cars, couches and backyards while tuning in for an online live-stream.

Throughout the night participants will learn about disadvantage and homelessness occurring in their backyards, before bedding down to gain an insight into the harsh reality faced by people without a permanent place to call home.

NSW Vinnies Community Sleepouts are being held on Friday, October 23 in Albury, Armidale, Bathurst, Broken Hill, Central Coast, Deniliquin, Fred’s Place – Tweed Heads, Maitland, Murrumbidgee, Tamworth, Wagga Wagga and Western Sydney.

You can register to take part as an individual or as a team at www.vinnies.org.au/communitysleepout

How Vinnies Supports Local Communities

Over the past year, Vinnies NSW has supported more than 54,000 people with $15.8 million in financial and material assistance – including 9,500 living with a disability and 12,000 identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.

For many of the people we assist, financial stress is a major factor with over half experiencing housing stress (30% or more of their income going towards housing) and a third relying on JobSeeker payments as their primary source of income.

With so many individuals and families feeling the hardship of COVID-19, including many who have never sought help from a charity before now, it is vital that we continuing assisting people in times of need.

All funds raised from NSW Vinnies Community Sleepouts will go towards local services and community outreach which support people with food, clothing, household items, accommodation, transport and medical and energy bills.

Our Impact throughout the State

METROPOLITAN

Covering Sydney, the Blue Mountains and the Central Coast, the Metropolitan region supported close to 21,000 people over the past year.

All the funds raised from the Western Sydney event will go directly to our Community Hubs in Blacktown, Harris Park and Penrith, along with ensuring the Western Sydney Vinnies Van can continue serving vulnerable people in Mt. Druitt and Parramatta.

The funds raised from the Central Coast event will allow our Community Hubs in Gosford, Woy Woy and Wyong to provide on-going assistance for people at risk of homelessness and disadvantage.

NORTH EAST

Going from the Hunter up to Tweed Heads on the Queensland border, more than 15,000 people were supported in the North East region last year.

The funds raised from the Fred’s Place event will support our drop-in homelessness service in Tweed Heads, which provides meals, medical assistance and washing facilities for people experiencing hardship.

With the funds raised from the Maitland event, our members and volunteers throughout the Lower Hunter will be able to help individuals and families keep the lights on through financial aid.

NORTH WEST

Reaching from Bathurst and Lithgow up to Glen Innes and Moree, the North West region supported close to 6,000 people in the past twelve months.

The funds raised from the Bathurst event will be used to support John Therry House, a new homeless and women’s refuge in Kelso set to open in late October and operated by Housing Plus. Vinnies’ local St Therese Conference works closely with local agencies to support the most vulnerable in the Bathurst community and will use the proceeds from the event to purchase essential household items to furnish the much-needed service into a homely environment for people seeking assistance in the local Bathurst and neighbouring communities.

The funds raised from the Armidale and Tamworth events will allow Vinnies Conferences in the area to provide financial and material support for people doing it tough.

SOUTH

Covering Wollongong and the South Coast down to Wagga Wagga and Albury, the South region supported 10,000 people over the past year.

Donors who contribute to the Wagga Wagga event will support Micah Hub, a local Vinnies service offering assistance with food, transport, medical assistance and caseworkers for people experiencing hardship in the Riverina.

With the funds raised from the Albury event, our Care and Support Centres in Albury, North Albury and Corowa, as well as local Conferences in Holbrook and Lavington, will be there for people in need of assistance.

All funds raised from the Murrumbidgee event will help our Care and Support Centres in Griffith, Leeton and Narrandera offer assistance throughout the local community.

WEST

Going far and wide from Parkes, Deniliquin, Broken Hill and Bourke, the West region supported 2,700 people over the past year.

Funds raised from the Deniliquin event will allow the local St Michael’s Conference to support people experiencing financial hardship.

The funds raised from the Broken Hill event will enable the Bishop Fox Meal Centre in Broken Hill to continue providing hot meals and personal care packs for disadvantaged members of the community.

Register today to take part in the NSW Vinnies Community Sleepout on Friday, October 23!

To find support from Vinnies in your local area, contact 13 18 12.