The Red Shield Appeal, now in its 59th year, aims to raise $37M this year to support Aussies in need and ensure nobody struggles alone.
“We will be out in force this weekend, knocking on doors, collecting at the shopping centres and at events across the country. If you see the Salvos out and about this weekend, please give generously,” said The Salvation Army’s Major David Collinson.
Research released by The Salvation Army this week illustrates how vital this year’s Red Shield Appeal is; 1 in 3 respondents who accessed The Salvos for support are unable to afford a filling meal at least once a day, and over half (52%) are skipping meals to get by.
“The research highlights that the most vulnerable in our country are having to go to extreme measures just to get by. Every day, we hear stories of people choosing between medical treatment and putting food on the table for their kids, or whether they can afford both their gas and electricity bills. It is heart-breaking to us, but together we can make a difference,” Major Collinson said.
“But there is hope. 90% of respondents said that they wouldn’t have managed financially without the support of The Salvation Army, which is why we need the Australian public to dig deep this weekend, so nobody struggles alone.”
Each year, through The Salvation Army’s nationwide network of services, the Salvos provide:
- Assistance to one person every 17 seconds.
- More than one.86 million sessions of care to people in need.
- Over one million bed nights to those who need accommodation.
- More than 1.52 million meals to people who accessed our homelessness services..
The Salvation Army have been operating in Australia for over 140 years, and this years Red Shield Appeal will help fund their over 2000 services around the country in key areas such as homelessness, family and domestic violence and financial hardship.
The Salvation Army’s Red Shield Appeal weekend is on the 20th and 21st May.
To donate to The Salvation Army’s Red Shield Appeal, or if you need support from The Salvos, visit www.salvationarmy.org.au
or call 13 SALVOS (13 72 58). You can also donate at any Salvos Store.
