When you’re looking for $100,000 to support families who are doing it tough at Christmas, $585 worth of gift vouchers from the Noosa Beach Classic Car Club is more than a drop in a sand bucket to the Salvation Army.
The money for the vouchers was raised at the club’s Christmas party at the weekend and they were handed over to the Army’s Corps Officer Captain Matt Gluyas on Monday afternoon by club representative Barbara Harvison (Morris).
“We asked club members for $25 or whatever they wanted to give to buy gift cards for food hampers, particularly for women who suffer domestic violence.
“This is our third year of supporting the Army,” Barbara told Noosa Today.
According to Captain Gluyas, this Christmas there is a 50 per cent increase in families throughout Noosa and Coolum looking for help.
“This year we are supporting more than 750 families who are doing it tough. We help them in a variety of ways, mainly through our Christmas hampers of food and gifts.
“They come to us. We assess them, give support immediately and for the long term, if needed. It takes a bit of courage to reach out to an organisation and say I need help.
“It is a sign of the times. You’ve got mum and dad both working and they can’t make ends meet. We are seeing it more and more whether it’s grocery shopping, fuel, whatever.”
Referring to the Army’s Give Joy This Christmas appeal, Captain Gluyas said: “if we can get that little bit extra. If we can get that little bit more for someone else, say, if I’m out shopping and I see a $20 Lego set, it might make a difference in someone else’s life.”
Donations to the Army’s Christmas Appeal may be made at Army headquarters, 6 Bartlett Road, Noosaville. For more information call 07 5335 8500 or email noosa.corps@salvationarmy.org.au
