More hands needed at Lazarus

LAZARUS Community Centre Geelong is calling on the local community for volunteers as the organisation works to keep up with increasing demand.

The centre supports the region’s homeless population, providing them with a safe space, warm meals, showers and more, relying heavily on volunteers and donations.

It is not just the homeless that the organisation is now supporting, there has also seen an increase in the amount of people utilising the service who need help with putting food on the table and feeding their kids.

As demand for the service rises, so is the number of volunteers needed to keep things running, from help in the kitchen through to more specialised skills.

Lazarus Community Centre manager Michael Kenneady said last year the organisation provided 13,844 meals and was on track to exceed that this year with a projection of 15,000.

“We need more hands on deck.

“Anyone that has a professional skill that wants to give back to the community, what a great way to do it, come and support us, even if it’s a couple of hours a month, it’s something we can definitely accommodate.”

Fifty-five volunteers are currently donating their time, with Mr Kenneady hoping to double that number into the future, especially once renovation works are complete which will accommodate more people, requiring more volunteers.

“We want to be a one stop shop at some point in the future as we get more space, but we need more support,” he said. “Whether there’s professionals out there that are semi-retired, maybe they’re registered nurses or doctors, they can help support here, a podiatrist to help with their feet, osteo, imagine what their back would be like sleeping rough, so anything and everything.”

As winter fast approaches, donations of clothing are also needed, particularly men’s pants, jumpers, jackets and shirts.

Mr Kenneady said everything Lazarus did for their guests gives them a sense of hope and safety; from the services they provide through to the clothing they offer.

“Hopefully with some of our in-reach services and outreach services that we do have, it will give them more sense of knowing that they can get to a point where they’re going to get out of that struggle a little bit more.”

Clothing and shoe donation can be made at the centre at 202 Myers Street, while monetary donations, including the $100 from 100 businesses initiative, can be made online, select local Woolworths stores also have a drop-off point for non-perishable foods.

For more information or to volunteer, head to lazaruscommunitycentre.com.au