The Give Where You Live Foundation’s Give Geelong Appeal is in full swing after kicking off with Footy Gear Friday last week.
The week-long fundraiser, which runs from March 15 to 22, raised more than $80,000 for the Geelong community last year, and the foundation’s chief executive Bill Mithen said with the rising cost of living the community needed help now more than ever.
“As the cost of living continues to rise, we’re seeing that the need in our community is also increasing,” he said.
“Our research tells us that 90 per cent of the region’s food relief agencies have experienced service demand growth over the past year. Supporting the Give Geelong Appeal will support the Foundation’s work to create a fairer community for those that need it most.”
Geelong’s only non-referral after hours service feeding those in need, The Outpost, relies heavily on Give Where You Live’s support.
The Outpost vice chair Amy Flint said her organisation was seeing a broader cross-section of people coming through their doors recently.
“We’re seeing people that we haven’t seen before, that are now struggling to afford to put food on the table,” Ms Flint said.
“They are bringing their children, they are bringing their families. The people that come through our doors are new and emerging every day.
“Without The Outpost, people would go hungry into the night. We are the last place of refuge.”
Ms Flint said The Outpost could not provide that service to the community without the support of Give Where You Live.
“Over the past year The Outpost has provided almost 30,000 meals to people in need in our community,” she said.
“We rely solely on the foundation and donations to have the meals to cook, in order to have the lights turned on, the heaters warm and the urn running.”
Visit givewhereyoulive.com.au to make a donation or get involved in the appeal.
