Appealing: Young Cats Jed Bews and Daniel Menzel contribute to the Red Shield Appeal with The Salvation Army’s David Collinson and, at back, Phil Mounsey, Peter Hobbs and Vic Pitman-Jones.
THE SALVOS need a “significant increase” in help to deliver over $8 million in social programs to the region next financial year, an appeal launch heard on Wednesday.
The Salvation Army Major Bruce Stevens told community and business leaders the annual Red Shield Appeal was seeking $300,000 in local donations.
“We are committed to responding to the day-to-day needs of those we serve yet cannot do this without the financial assistance of the local community. We are relying on the Geelong community to partner with us again,” Maj Stevens said.
“The cost of our social programs in Geelong this year will be $8.09 million.
“Looking to the future, I anticipate the Geelong community would share our concern about how sustainable this is.”
Maj Stevens told the launch the Salvos had invested $14.5 million in Geelong over the past five years to serve the community.
“I believe the business community should be encouraged by the knowledge $10.4 million could have been allocated elsewhere in Victoria yet has been committed to Geelong.”
