Collaborative donation will warm the needy

THE Ballarat commandery of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem has partnered with Buninyong and Southern Cross Probus clubs to keep the vulnerable warm this winter.

Mindful of the City’s Be Kind campaign, the three groups donated a ute-load of preloved, and new, cosy clothes and blankets to The SoupBus, helping homeless and needy clients in the bitter cold.

OSJ’s Dame Barbara Hughes was one of multiple representatives delivering goods, meeting food coordinator, Lorraine Gittings.

Mrs Hughes was impressed by the volunteer-run bus, “fitted out with small stoves, warming ovens, refrigerators, crockery and cutlery, as well as stacks of paper plates,” disposable and COVID safe.

“I was amazed at the variety and quantity of the parcels that were arriving at the bus for distribution. We were overcome with gratitude at being able to help,” she said.

Linking up Probus clubs, the Order of Saint John has made new friends through collaboration.