Berwick Salvation Army Church ministers Karinna and Craig Exon were astounded at the generosity of Casey residents during this year’s Red Shield Appeal.By Cam Scott
RECORD donations flooded into the Berwick Salvation Army Church during this year’s Red Shield Appeal, despite fears that tsunami donations may have already emptied people’s pockets.
This year’s total collection figure of $31,400 was almost double last year’s effort of $16,500.
Minister of the church Craig Exon said that the church was initially apprehensive about the response this year’s collection would attract, but was amazed at the generosity of Casey people.
“The local community has just blown us away,” he said.
“I guess we were hoping for about the same as other years, but we also understood that due to tsunami donations there was the potential for donations to go down this year. The increase is just phenomenal,” he said.
“This is incredible considering the generosity towards the tsunami appeal and proves that the City of Casey is a generous and giving community even in the midst of slowly rising interest rates.
“We wish to say thanks to everyone who doorknocked and donated to make the appeal a roaring success this year.”
The money goes towards maintaining Salvation Army Church programs in the City of Casey and across Melbourne, including assisting with material aid, family assistance, children’s ministries, and other programs.
Mr Exon said the generosity, coupled with new collection initiatives such as recruiting people to focus on collecting from houses in their own street, helped the overall total reach the lofty heights.
He said as well as collectors and those who gave, the efforts of the St Margaret’s School and Maramba Primary School were also of great assistance.
