Red Cross in call for help for families

CASEY’S Red Cross has called on residents for help as they prepare to launch their annual appeal.
Red Cross Calling kicks off on Monday, 13 February, and volunteers have urged residents to get behind the cause.
In the Casey region, Hallam Red Cross Unit volunteer Betty Keen hopes to match the $52,000 raised in the city last year.
As a volunteer with the Single Incident Emergency Assistance service, Ms Keen helps families affected by smallscale emergencies, such as house fires.
The Hallam resident arranges to take families shopping and to help them with needs such as clothing and toiletries.
But Ms Keen said it was not only small emergencies that saw the Red Cross in action.
In the recent Victorian fires, thousands of volunteers served more than 30,000 meals across the state, helping revive the energy and spirits of fire fighters battling to save lives and property.
Australian Red Cross Victoria executive Andrew Hilton has called on Australians to embrace one of the organisation’s fundamental principles – humanity – by donating money to help the Red Cross continue its vital work assisting Australians in need.
Mr Hilton said that helping Australian Red Cross meant helping Australians who were in real need, whether it be in emergencies such as the recent fires, or Australians who suffer in silence and go unnoticed.
“The demand for our Telecross program – where volunteers make daily phone calls to elderly and isolated people – tells us that more and more aged people are living alone.
“In Victoria, up to 30 per cent of elderly and isolated people we call daily list the police as their first contact because they are utterly alone.
“And as many as one in four kids would start school each day without breakfast if it weren’t for our Good Start Breakfast Club.”
Red Cross Calling is usually run in March, but will be held early in Victoria this year due to the Commonwealth Games.
Casey residents can donate by phoning 1800 811 700 or online at www.redcross.org.au.
To volunteer as a door knocker, contact Red Cross Calling in Casey chairperson Norma McCausland on 9707 1576.