THE Uniting Church\u2019s support and assistance service has been extended at its Kangaroo Flat site on 10 Camp Street.<\/p>\n
After Uniting Emergency Relief was discontinued at the Forest Street location, Uniting Vic. Tas group manager of community development Anna Matina said the goal is to make the remaining centre more accessible and flexible.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe wanted to be able to respond to the needs of the community, so we\u2019ve actually consolidated our services into the one location at Kangaroo Flat and we wanted to increase our hours as a response to that,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Previously, Uniting ER operated on Tuesdays and Fridays from 9am to 1pm but it now operates Tuesdays and Friday 9am to 3pm, as well as Thursdays 9am to 1pm.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had existing volunteers and staff based at Kangaroo Flat so for our staff it\u2019s meant their hours have been extended and we\u2019ve been able to utilise our existing volunteers and bring on additional volunteers to provide that support,\u201d Ms Matina said.<\/p>\n
Uniting ER now has 12 volunteers, offering food relief, help with bills and other expenses as well as social contact through a \u201ccuppa and chat\u201d.<\/p>\n
During the coronavirus pandemic, Ms Matina said the way ER is delivered has \u201cchanged drastically.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201c[It\u2019s] needed to change to be completely contactless, either people popping in to obtain food from us or actually delivering food to people at their homes if they can\u2019t get to Kangaroo Flat,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve had to change the way we deliver the service but still trying to support just as many people, if not more, through that process.\u201d<\/p>\n