Lazarus seeks 100 supporters

THE Lazarus Community Centre is appealing for financial donors to join its “$100 from 100” campaign to support its renovation project.

Based in central Geelong and open seven days a week, the centre supports the region’s homeless and insecure population.

According to the Lazarus website, the fundraising campaign – which launched last year – involves finding 100 businesses donating $100 per month (tax-deductible) for as long as possible so the charity can “undertake a much-needed facility renovation so they can continue to provide warm meals, hot showers and a place for disadvantaged residents to seek support”.

Businesses that have already signed up include Arthur Street, Preston Rowe Paterson, Coulter Legal, Advisory Partners, Costa Asset Management and the Anthony Costa Foundation.

Lazarus will stay at its home in the Old Geelong Jail, where it has been since 2017, but use the funds from “$100 from 100” to renovate an outbuilding at the site and employ at least one new paid worker.

This would allow the charity to roughly double the between 45 and 50 people it assists each day.

Lazarus does not get ongoing government funding and largely survives off grants and the hard work of its volunteers.

The charity estimates 33 per cent of the homeless people in the Barwon region are under the age of 18, and 14 per cent of all homeless people in the region are sleeping rough in tents, cares and other improvised dwellings.

Lazarus Community Centre is located at 202 Myers Street, Geelong.

For more information about the charity or its services, phone 0419 741 935 or head to lazaruscommunitycentre.com.au