With the Red Shield Appeal only a few months away, the Salvation Army are calling on volunteers to help collect donations during the annual doorknock.
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This year is a significant milestone for the doorknock, which will celebrate 50 years since it first began.
The Red Shield Appeal doorknock will take place on the weekend of May 30 and 31 and Forbes Salvation Army officer Donna Munro said they are calling for volunteers to help not only that weekend but during the week leading up to it.
Businesses and schools are also asked to get involved in the Red Shield Appeal and volunteers will be going around to businesses during that week collecting money.
“We accept donations from businesses and encourage them to have a red day and also the schools to have a red day and take donations on those days,” Ms Munro said.
Ms Munro said volunteering for the Red Shield Appeal just takes a few hours of someone’s time and is a great cause.
“We’re looking for local people to give a few hours of their time to collect money,” she said.
“Salvos help one million people a year, or a person every 31 seconds.”
Ms Munro said all money raised during the Red Shield Appeal will help a lot of different people in the community through a number of activities.
“It goes to social activities such as kids camps where we send kids from here who are less fortunate than others to camps to have some fun and give their parents a break,” she said.
“There are also drug and alcohol rehabilitation places we send people to, and the money also goes to homeless shelters.”
The Salvation Army believe more people are in need of assistance with a range of big issues.
“Sadly services are under more pressure than ever before and the need for funds is absolutely crucial,” Ms Munro said.
“Everyone hears in the news of the government cutting funds for this and that and it means people are going to rely on more charities.”
Ms Munro said this is reflected in Forbes as she sees more and more people come to the Salvation Army for assistance, especially when bills are due.
“I see more people struggling to put food on tables,” she said.
“When electricity bills come in we get an enormous amount of people come through our doors.”
To volunteer for the Red Shield Appeal contact Donna or Troy on 6852 2133.
