Red Shield Appeal enters 61st year

THE Salvation Army has kicked off its 61st annual Red Shield Appeal across Australia.

Taking place from April through to June, the annual event hopes to raise $38 million to help the organisation deliver vital community programs and social services.

The Salvation Army’s Major Warren Elliot said the last few years have been incredibly tough for the hardest hit in the community.

“We see so many people grappling with increased stress and uncertainty as everyday living has become unaffordable, leading to housing stress, financial hardship and an inability to get by.

“At the Salvos we are privileged to support those in our area experiencing hardship, but we cannot do this without the ongoing and loyal support of the community.”

This year’s appeal will culminate in Red Shield Weekend on May 24 and 25, with plenty of ways for locals to get involved including volunteering by collecting at shopping centres, door knocking, fundraising through schools or sporting events and more.

“There is no better way to support your community than by donating to or volunteering in the Red Shield Appeal this year, and we need you to partner with us to be the hope our community so desperately needs,” Major Elliot said. “We can’t do our work in the community without you.”

Earlier this year the Salvation Army released its Social Justice Stocktake, a survey of more than 16,000 Australians highlighting the biggest issues.

As a result of the stocktake, it found 86.5 per cent of people identified housing affordability and homelessness to be the top concern.

Across the country last year, the organisation’s network of more than 400 centres and 2,000 services were able to provide:

Assistance to one person every 17 seconds

More than 1.76 million sessions of care

More than 1.1 million bed nights for people needing accommodation, and

More than 1.5 million meals for people accessing homelessness services.

For more information or to donate to the Red Shield Appeal, head to salvationarmy.org.au/red-shield-appeal