Appealing for support

THE Salvation Army’s annual Red Shield Appeal fundraiser kicked off in Ballarat yesterday and will run until this Sunday, 26 May.

Team Leader of Ballarat Community Church’s Doorways Program, John Clonan said RSA supports the work and mission of the local Salvos, helping people experiencing hardships to get back on their feet.

“This support goes directly to client food vouchers and material assistance in our Doorways Program, the Ballarat Community Men’s Shed, and some staff salaries including Emergency Relief, Cafe 102 Meals Program and Volunteer Coordinator,” Mr Clonan said.

“Without this local support we would not be able to provide [the right] level of assistance, together with types of assistance and the staffing, to assess and distribute this emergency relief.”

Major Rhonda Elkington said people will spot Salvos volunteers out and about for the rest of the week.

“We’ll be actively collecting at a number of supermarkets and shopping centres around Ballarat and on the Saturday and Sunday,” she said. “If people want to volunteer, they can still register online.”