Dear friends and supporters
Our little Rapid Response Circle Team has been busy, especially as winter chills began to bite. Thanks to your contributions, support from other Circles, a further generous Grant from the Suzanne Elliot Trust Fund and support from the Burnside Uniting Church Cares Group for specific requests, it has been possible to respond positively and quickly to all requests for help.
Primarily these have been to help cover costs of water, gas, electricity, mobile phones, food (via FoodBank where possible) and medications. Warm clothes and bedding were in high demand, especially for refugees recently arrived from Syria, Afghanistan and Venezuela amongst other countries. Settlement Packages, while providing the basics, didn’t cover everything needed, especially for large families with 7 and 5 children. Blankets, warm quilts and sheets, towels, thermal and other warm jackets, jumpers, track pants and socks were asked for and bought new or, whenever possible, good quality, clean items were sourced from donations.
Carol Collin from the Willunga Circle and her friends, McLaren Vale Hair & Beauty at Sellicks, Chistian Care & Support at Aldinga Beach and down-sizing members of the Willunga Catholic Parish deserve a special mention.
Mindful of keeping heating costs down, warm floor rugs were bought cheaply on Marketplace from cash donations. Big cooking pots (new and recycled), large sandwich makers and bench ovens were other popular items with Syrian families. Additional volunteers helped make an old, cold, Housing SA Unit into a functional and cosy home for a young woman from Afghanistan, here alone while she waits for her husband to be granted a Visa.
Looking back over the past financial year reminded me how groups of ordinary people persisting with support and encouragement can achieve positive outcomes. We are glad to be be able to do this for, and with, refugees and asylum-seekers who have been deprived of liberty, life needs and hope.
With thanks, as always,
Tricia Dundon (Hart) and the Rapid Response Team