Hi ,

Here is the latest news from Perth Homeless Support Group.

In this edition:

• PHSG Update
• Information for Volunteers
• Ladies Arvo - Movie Fundraiser
• Recommended Reading
  
• A Special Message from Harper-Roy and Wesley
• Introducing the Committee - Jed Fay
• Food and Essential Items We Need
  

It was been a really exciting couple of months – as we have become busier than ever we continue to develop plans to extend our services to other areas, with our committee working really hard to accommodate these new developments. Our interaction with 55 Central and the City of Bayswater is progressing as we begin to formalise our partnership for the future Homeless Engagement Hub in the Bayswater area.

We have continued to receive amazing support from community groups, businesses, individuals and also from primary and high school-aged students. Kane and the team at GMR Supplies helped us out with the purchase of a new fridge and freezer.  Mitch and the crew at Diverse Electrical & Communications, with Steve from Mater Electrical, helped install two new power points at the depot and other works. Badge Construction came by our depot with two ute loads of donations, and Emporess Catering continues to support us with delicious food. We simply could not manage without the ongoing support of these amazing businesses who do so much for us time and time again, year after year.

We have also had heaps of donations from our community. Visy have kindly provided us with 400 boxes for our Rescue Hamper programme, Balcatta Recycling with backpacks, Olympic Fine Foods with 3500 sachets of cereal and Lush with toiletries. Melissa Robertson and the team at Cancer Research continue to donate numerous knits, rugs, other warm clothing and other items. The Lorikeet Centre, Wanneroo Joondalup and States Emergency Service and DFES, and Salvation Army recently supplied us with blankets, bottled water and other food items. Corinne from Glide Rehabilitation Balcatta, Cindy from the Community Grants Hub, Leah from Constable Care have all donated a large number of items from their work.  So many members of the public simply call us with items to donate or drop off donations to us directly, which we are so grateful for, thank you all.

But we are completely blown away with the number of students organising their own drives, or schools holding donation drives. Students and staff from Bull Creek Primary, Carmel School, Scotch College, Shenton College, St. James Anglican, St. Georges, Tapping Primary School and Warwick High School have all been collecting for us these past few months. Thank you all.

So so many members of the public simply call us out of the blue with items to donate or drop off donations to us directly at the depot, which we are so grateful for. As we move into Sprint, we want to give a big shout of “Thank you” to all those knitting groups around Perth who have been working really hard over Winter to supply us with a constant stream of really beautiful and woolly warm beanies, scarves and gloves for our street friends. Thank you all.

We have put in an order for our new van, due to arrive in October. This will be a real help as we grow our services into 2021. We have survived some wet and windy weather this past month, but have been out on the streets every Tuesday night and Sunday morning helping those in need. We could not do this without our stellar group of volunteers – you are all awesome!

“In a time where we are all hearing the dreadful statistics on increased mental health issues and suicide rates from COVID-19 led anxiety, a new study confirms what many suspected… that volunteering not only helps the community, but also the volunteer’s mental health”. The peer reviewed The Journal of Happiness Studies which looks at the scientific understanding of subjective well-being published a study into the volunteering habits, mental health, and distress function of 70,000 research participants in the United Kingdom. The study was conducted over an 18-year period. It concluded that people who had volunteered in the past year were more satisfied with their lives and rated their overall health as better. It also found the more regular the volunteering (of at least once a month), volunteers reported better mental health than others in the sample set, and more satisfied with their lives.

If you are interested in volunteering please contact PHSG Headquarters between 10am and 2pm weekdays on 08 9471 9115.

The Perth Homeless Support Group are holding a Movie Charity Fundraiser at The Backlot private luxury cinema, in West Perth on Sunday 27th September.

It's Ladies Arvo and we are screening "Made In Italy", a beautiful movie set in Italy. Tickets just $25 with door prizes, raffles and a goody bag for all attendees.

Doors and Bar open at 3pm and the movie starts at 3.45pm.

All proceeds go to the purchase of food and toiletries on behalf of those experiencing homelessness.

“When there’s no place to call home: Stories of people who have experienced homelessness in WA” is a collection of stories by people who have experienced life without a home in Western Australia. These people are from different places across the state and their experiences show how complex and personal the circumstances for each person that can result in homelessness. The Department of Communities collected the stories during the consultation on the Western Australian 10-year strategy on homelessness, to inform the development of the strategy. So for those of you who have not read this already, its insightful, poignant and essential reading for anyone who is seeking to truly understand the causes of homelessness.

We feel it is important that you get to know the committee behind the important work done by Perth Homeless Support Group and its amazing volunteers.

So without further ado, we present Jed Fay - Depot Manager and Volunteer Coordinator

Whilst every donation is greatly appreciated there are a number of items we always need.

Bottled water, long life milk, Up & Go breakfast drinks, sanitiser,  wet wipes, NEW underwear and socks

These items can be dropped off at our headquarters located at 2/28 Munt St Baywater on weekdays between 10am and 2pm or phone us to arrange collection.

Other items we use include:

NON PERISHABLE FOOD - Preferably cans with ring-pull opener.
Baked beans, Spaghetti, Noodles In a cup, Long life cheese and crackers, Tinned tuna, Sardines in tomato sauce, Up and go breakfast drinks, Sustagen, Fruit tubs, Fruit juice boxes,Vanilla creamed rice, Sultanas ,Arnotts shapes, Le snacks, Sultanas, Jelly beans, Barley sugar, Jelly babies, Chip snack packs, Mints.

TOILETRIES:
Soap, Shampoo, Body wash, Toothpaste, Toothbrushes, Razors, Deodorant (roll on only), Wet wipes, Combs, Brushes , Condoms,
Essential Women supply us with Tampons etc.

SUNDRIES
Sleeping bags, Torches and batteries, Blankets (DARK COLOURS ONLY), Scarves, Beanies, Socks (NEW socks please) Mens underwear M-L, Womens underwear Sizes 10 -16 . Please No Used Underwear or Socks.