Red Shield Appeal is coming to you

The Salvos are conducting their annual Red Shield Appeal and volunteers will be walking the streets of Forbes collecting to help local people in need.

Forbes Salvation Army officer Troy Munro said funds raised support a variety of services.

“In Forbes the money goes towards helping us give out free blankets in winter, providing family tracing services, helping rural chaplains to visit and support farmers in need and to disaster relief,” he said.

Mr Munro said the money also helps the Salvos to refer local people onto recovery centres for drugs and alcohol. 

“We might not have the facilities here but we do have them available to us,” he said. 

“People from the region have been helped by the Salvos to get them into centres in larger towns.”

Mr Munro said the best way to break both the cycle of homelessness and addiction is to support these people.

“People in these circumstances are better helped through care than through judgement,” he said.

“We provide a listening ear, we can sit down and be with them in their time of need and help them on a pathway to other services.” 

Mr Munro said drug and alcohol addiction are issues locally as well as homelessness.

This year marks 50 years since the Salvation Army first began their Red Shield Appeal Doorknock and the national fundraising goal for this year’s drive is $9.5 million.

Contact the Salvation Army by visiting the Forbes store at 128 Rankin Street or by phone on 13salvos, or through the website at salvos.org.au