Volunteers Week

from w Volunteers are a great resource in any community and there are all kinds of activities that engage people in doing something about our society by giving up some of their time. Certainly most people that I know do some kind of voluntary work - Meals on Wheels, Do-Care, catering for meals for the disadvantaged, caring for injured animals, cleaning up weeds in reserves, packing books, computers, beds, clothing, kitchenware at Donation in Kind, fund-raising for a pool for disabled children, State Emergency Services, mentoring youth, visiting a local prison, go abroad to Nepal to work in an orphanage, work for low pay in non-government organisations throughout the world - and the list is very long. This week is an opportunity to say thank you. I would like to link the kind of help that many people do to a Christian imperative to do something to build up the Kingdom of God - heal the sick, visit the prisoner, feed the hungry and so on.

VOLUNTEERS WEEK A GREAT CHANCE FOR GEELONG COMMUNITY TO LEND A HAND Shadow Minister for Volunteers John Eren today called on the Geelong residents to roll up their sleeves and volunteer with charity and community organisations as part of National Volunteers Week. Visiting the Salvation Army Northside Centre at Corio, Mr Eren pledged his support as a volunteer. Mr Eren said National Volunteers Week, which runs from May 14 to 20, was the perfect opportunity for Victorians to get involved and give something back to their local communities. “National Volunteers Week is not only an opportunity to celebrate the wonderful work volunteers do in our community, but a chance for Victorians to get involved and volunteer,” Mr Eren said. “Whether it is the local charity, health, environment, emergency service or sporting organisations, volunteers are the lifeblood of the community. “I am pledging my support as a volunteer to the Salvation Army Northside Centre and I urge anyone in the Geelong community who is able to commit some time to help others to become a volunteer. “The Salvation Army Northside Centre is assisted by more than 40 volunteers who do amazing work supporting 600 people per week. “Without volunteers many charitable and community organisations wouldn’t be able to do the fantastic work they do. “Australians have a proud history of volunteering, contributing more than 700 million hours of community service annually. “This year’s National Volunteers Week theme – Every One Counts – could not be further from the truth as volunteers are very much valued, not only by the organisations they assist but also by the people within the community who receive assistance from volunteers.”