The Give Where You Live Foundation recently announced its latest grant round has provided over $215,000 in funding to 13 local organisations across the Geelong region. These grants will support people in our community with a focus on the Foundation’s priority areas of food security and homelessness assistance.
Helping the Foundation’s vision of creating a fairer community, one of these grants was made possible by Kardinia Rotary Club who funded part of the grant that supported Lazarus Community Centre.
Foundation CEO Bill Mithen said, “These grants are only possible thanks to our generous donors, corporate partners, thousands of workplace givers and other supporters and we thank them for helping the Foundation to create a fairer G21 region,” Mr Mithen said. “We are very grateful to have had the support of Kardinia Rotary to help fund the grant to Lazarus Community Centre.”
One of the 13 grant recipients Lazarus Community Centre, who with $10,000 of support from Kardinia Rotary received a $20,000 grant for their ‘In Reach Support Program’ to ensure vulnerable community members will have access to immediate, specialised, allied health support, in real time.
Lazarus Community Centre offers support to those facing homelessness and social isolation by providing meals, laundry facilities, showers and company. It is a voluntary, no referral needed community drop in centre that provides practical care such as a meal, personal hygiene, clothing and a place to rest.
Lazarus Board member, Michael Parker said that this latest grant will help ensure they can provide an increased level of support to the increasing number of people accessing their service.
“Lazarus Community Centre has seen our client numbers grow exponentially in the last 18 months. With this significant increase in numbers comes an increase in complexities. People who are sleeping rough are more likely to be experiencing health issues, social isolation, and struggle to maintain a regular relationship with allied health and housing services. The support through this grant will make a real difference to Lazarus clients.”
Allan Murphy from Kardinia Rotary Club, said it was great to see firsthand how the Kardinia Rotary Club’s contribution will be making a real impact in the lives of people facing homelessness in our community. “We’re so proud to be supporting our community through the Give Where You Live Foundation. It’s great that this contribution to Lazarus Community Centre will help those in our community who need it most.”