Community Sleepout

NEXT month, Vinnies is inviting people from across the region to take part in the Geelong Community Sleepout with the aim of connecting with homelessness and raising money for the local St Vincent de Paul Society.

Set for Friday, 19 August the Sleepout is open to everyone, including families, individuals, companies and sports clubs, and children.

“We are so excited to have the Sleepout back in Geelong,” said St Vincent de Paul Society regional council president and local Vinnies volunteer Peter Cummins.

“Every cent raised will be backing our local, volunteer-run community services that provide people with the basic things people need to survive, food, school fees, transport, clothing, furniture, and more.”

In the 2019-21 financial years, local volunteers provided almost $800,000 worth of assistance to people and families in the Geelong region.

Barwon Water board chair and Geelong Community Sleepout ambassador Jo Plummer said she’s excited to be MC-ing the event this year.

“I am thrilled to be involved in the Geelong Community Sleepout,” she said.

“You don’t need to look too hard around our beautiful city and the region to see that housing is a real issue.

“I was shocked to read City of Greater Geelong statistics showing around 4500 people accessing homelessness services each year in Geelong.”

The Sleepout will be held at Deakin University’s Waterfront Campus and chief advancement officer Jimmy Buck was keen to support the push.

“We are so excited to welcome the entire Geelong community to this important Vinnies event at our Waterfront campus,” he said.

“The local Vinnies volunteers do incredible work in the community and we are very proud to play our part.”

The sleepout will run in the John Hay Courtyard of Deakin’s Waterfront Campus from 6pm on Friday, 19 August to 7am on 20 August. To register, head to bit.ly/3PESnMR.