Building Lazarus one brick at a time

GEELONG organisation Lazarus Community Centre has launched its Brick By Brick Campaign as it raises money for the centre’s redevelopment.

Lazarus offers support to people facing homelessness and isolation in Geelong, providing them with a safe place throughout the day, along with meals and support.

The centre is currently redeveloping to allow more people to access the services and needs help from the community as the works get closer to completion.

Lazarus board member Tony Harman said the Buy a Brick Campaign, came about as a direct response to the centre’s renovations.

“We’ve raised most of the funds to build that particular property, but what we haven’t got is a lot of equipment and other things that go with it,” he said.

“It’s just about getting the word out there, and it’s amazing how generous the community of Geelong are, but it’s just finding and knocking on the right door at the right time.”

It took three years for Lazarus to get approval from Heritage Victoria to knock a hole in the wall of its premises, the Old Geelong Gaol.

Part of the requirements was 80 per cent of the bricks had to be retained and stored in a safe place.

Because of the historic overlay the bricks they cannot be sold, with Lazarus instead selling them in principle and people receiving a plaque in recognition of their donation.

Through buying a brick for $1,000 it will help provide warm meals, a place to rest, access to showers, laundry and essential supplies, compassionate care and a centre designed for dignity and inclusion for the Geelong community.

Mr Harman said the more funds the non-profit can raise the better, with anything not required for the build, being used for the running of the centre.

“We’ve set ourselves an internal goal of $50,000, but if we can raise $100,000, that would just be gold for us.

“To run the centre, it costs $240,000 a year, so that’s where we start. We’ve got ongoing funding of $120,000 so we’ve got to find the rest and it’s through campaigns like this that we can actually do that.”

The campaign will run until the development’s completed, which is expected to be around the end of September.

For more or to donate, head to lazaruscommunitycentre.com.au