December 16, 2024
Kingaroy’s St Vincent de Paul Conference has already supported more than 800 people this year with emergency assistance, and they’re about to help even more over Christmas.
Conference members and volunteers are preparing hampers to give to about 30 families which St Vinnies has identified as being in need of extra help over the festive season.
The bulk of the donations have come from St Patrick’s Primary School in Nanango and the Nanango and Kingaroy Catholic parishes, but there have also been donations of food stuffs left by members of the public.
Conference secretary Sue Lambert said about $36,000 had been spent on emergency assistance so far this year, up 25 per cent on last year.
“We are able to do this thanks to the hard work of the shop employees and especially their band of volunteers,” she said.
“It is the profit from the store, donations and bequests to Vinnies that make up the majority of our budget.”
Sue said Vinnies also tried to offer a sympathetic ear to people and try to help them find solutions to the causes of their struggles while assisting them materially in the short term.
“Rental increases and fuel and car costs are significant factors currently causing financial distress,” she said.
Sue said St Vincent de Paul hold to major appeals every year, the Christmas Appeal and a Winter Appeal.
