Almost 400 people from 208 different families came to Seymour’s St Vincent de Paul Society for assistance in the 2018-19 financial year.
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That’s almost 30 per cent more than the same time last year.
The team at the Seymour Conference Assistance Centre in Anzac Ave is determined to help everyone who comes in for assistance, but it can’t do it alone, conference president Paul Fleming said.
In its annual Winter Appeal, Vinnies reaches out to Seymour and district residents for financial and material donations.
The Vinnies Shop is in urgent need of winter clothing in good condition and homewares to replenish dwindling stocks.
‘‘It happens every winter,’’ Mr Fleming said.
‘‘The cold hits and people are in desperate need of something to keep them warm, just when we are short of stock.
‘‘There must be many people out there who have warm clothing in great condition just sitting in their wardrobes having hardly ever been worn.
‘‘Now is the time for a sort out and to donate to the shop.’’
The volunteer team at Vinnies is looking for all kinds of clothing, especially men’s winter clothes in saleable condition.
‘‘The condition is very important,’’ Mr Fleming said. ‘‘The store manager is very fussy that the clothing she presents for sale will look and feel like what those shopping at the store would expect.’’
Vinnies conducts a Winter Appeal every year and the Young Vinnies Team at St Mary’s College Seymour always steps up to help out people who have very little.
This year the group collected and donated a record 200kg of food.
‘‘It’s an amazing effort by the students to which we are truly indebted,’’ Mr Fleming said.
‘‘We are extremely thankful for their generosity and the support of St Mary’s deputy principal Catherine Evans and other staff in managing the program. It might be something small to you and me, but this help means the world to people struggling to make ends meet. We encourage the community to dig deep and help out those struggling this winter.’’
Winter clothes in good condition can be donated to the Vinnies Store at 5 Wallis St, Seymour — the store is open from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Saturday — or by donating non-perishable, unopened food within its use-by date to the Seymour Conference Assistance Centre at 75b Anzac Ave, Seymour. The centre is open from 9.30am to 1pm Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.