Five ways you can make a difference for people in need this winter
Posted on
For many of us, winter is a time of wonder: full of holidays, family gatherings, and cold-weather fun.
But for vulnerable members of our community— people who struggle to make ends meet, women and children fleeing domestic violence, and people at risk of homelessness, —the colder months can be a brutal challenge.
According to Communities at Work’s Crisis Support Coordinator Chantelle, there’s a real appetite in Canberra to lend a helping hand—but sometimes people just need to know how to get started.
“We have some very generous people in our community who are very willing to donate, whether they’re donating their time through volunteering, or whether they’re donating food or money,” she says.
We sat down with Chantelle to talk about the five best ways to make a positive impact this winter and help those in need.
1) Donate a little to make a big change
Instead of warming your hands with a coffee this winter, why not warm your heart with a financial donation? All funds will be used to support Communities at Work’s Community Pantries and Crisis Support Programs, both of which provide important access to food, medications, professional clothing for interviews, essential items, and emergency relief for struggling Canberrans.
“Communities at Work’s Crisis Support program helps people with material aid and information referral support,” explains Chantelle.
“It [Crisis Support] is there for when people are struggling, primarily with finances, but it can also be there for those struggling with mental health or with homelessness or those at risk of homelessness. It might be issues around needing guidance around family support, or domestic violence—or they might be having issues with legal matters and they’re just not sure where else to go to get some information.”
Offering a safe space for people to seek help, the Communities at Work Crisis Support Program also offers basic necessities many of us take for granted in winter: hot showers, a place to charge their phone, warm coats, and a cup of tea and access to a private space and public phone to make important calls to access other support services.
According to Chantelle, making a small donation (that can be claimed during tax time) is an easy way to give people a leg up when they need it most. And a little goes a long way.
“When people hear the word ‘donation’, sometimes they think that it has to be hundreds of dollars,” she says.
“Something as simple as a $20 gift card from Woolies or Coles will help someone buy some nappies or put that little bit of extra fuel in their car. Those types of things are really practical and helpful.”
2) Find a new home for (non-perishable) food items
We all love a warm meal, but what about when you can’t afford to put food on the table? Operating for more than a decade and helping thousands of people, Communities at Work is always looking for food donations to restock their community pantries.
Providing clients with access to free or heavily discounted food in a dignified and safe space, the pantry is more than a place to get food—it also acts as a community hub and offers them the chance to choose what they want to eat rather than receiving a hamper—something that is often taken for granted.
“It’s set up like a shop where people can come in, they can purchase food at a really reduced cost and that helps with their budgeting,” explains Chantelle
“Another aspect of the community pantries is that—through crisis support—they can get vouchers to enable them to have free shops in the pantry. The pantries also accept Food Bank voucher cards provided by partner agencies which also provide a subsidised shop. We want people to have a shopping experience where they can come and choose exactly what they need. We know that people have certain dietary requirements, such as needing Halal or gluten-free options, they might be diabetic, or vegetarian or vegan. We aim to cater for that diversity.”
The Gungahlin and Tuggeranong pantries are always looking for donations of food items to stock the shelves and pass on to the community. Anything non-perishable that you would put on your table at home to feed your family would be perfect to donate.
3) Donate some of your time
Do you have some extra time in your week and want to contribute to helping our community? One great way to contribute is to volunteer with Communities at Work. Volunteer roles include assisting in the pantries, and with sorting and packing donations. Volunteering shifts can be as for as little as 2-3 hours a week. It’s not only a great way to give back, but also a great way to meet people, share your skills and learn something new!
4) Commit to giving a little on a regular basis
Did you know that if just 10% of working Australians made a payroll charity donation of $5 a week, the Australian community would benefit by more than $260 million each year?
That individual contribution might not sound like a lot, but it’s an easy way to support Communities at Work—and the best thing is it can be taken straight out of your paycheck, so you don’t need to think twice about it.
“Workplace giving is a great option,” says Chantelle. “You also get a little bit of a tax deduction as well.”
It’s as simple as it sounds: if you are an employee, you can donate money directly through your pay on a regular basis and receive a tax deduction as you give; and, if you are an employer, you can easily set up a payroll giving scheme to support your employees’ charitable giving.
Ensuring continued sustainability of Communities at Work programs, not only helps the community but also enhances your business’ reputation, fulfils your corporate social impact, and boosts staff morale!
5) Did someone say fundraising event?
If you have some extra time on your hands, why not organise an event to raise some funds? From food and clothing drives to trivia events, baking cupcakes or even jumping out of a plane, the only limit is your imagination!
According to Chantelle, one of the most popular fundraising events for Communities at Work is a CANstruction drive—which is exactly as cool as it sounds.
“People can—within the workplace or school or even just in the neighbourhood—do a can drive, collecting canned items,” she explains.
“We’ve had a few places that have done competitions called a CANstruction, where everyone brings in a variety of donated canned foods, and then they create something fun [like a structure or an artwork] out of those as part of a competition before all the cans get donated .”
With all donations going into the Canberra community through the Communities at Work Support Services for people experiencing hardship and their Galilee School, fundraising events are not only a fun way to help people in need but also a great way to build up your work team, friends and family and connect them with the community.
Come up with your own idea!
Want to do something else to help the Canberra community?
“We’re always open to people coming up with their own ideas as well!” says Chantelle. “For example, if people are thinking about Christmas in July, they may like to do a gift drive, particularly for adults or teenagers. They usually get left behind at Christmas, and we would welcome that.”
Whether you want to donate your time as a volunteer, drop off donations of food and essential items, make a tax-deductible donation, or even leave a gift in your will, you can find out more about Communities at Work and make a difference today to help someone in need in your local community.
