Now lockdown is done and people can do more outside of their homes, plans to step up their fundraising efforts for a sleepbus for homeless men in Taree are gaining momentum.
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The last day of lockdown, Sunday October 10, coincidentally marked World Homelessness Day. Terry Stanton, founder of the Manning Homeless Action Group, is excited to be able to get working on the Bed Inn Bus campaign again a day after that date.
"The lockdowns have slowed up everything we have been trying to do and organise. If the lockdowns have truly ended at last for our area, we should be able to get the campaign running much actively," Terry said.
"We intend to have flyers printed, to run stalls in shopping malls to receive donations and give people information about us and the sleep bus, and about how to make donations online."
Terry has also put the call out to local schools to see if they are interested in helping out with funding drives.
And he particularly hopes that community minded businesses can get on board and help with substantial donations.
To date, the group has raised $5947 toward the sleepbus, however there is a long way to go. The amount needed to get a bus refurbished and supplied is $100,000.
"We have a little more money with a charity account with Rotary, organised for us by Bob Nelson, one of our members and a senior member of North Taree Rotary Club," Terry said.
You can donate to the Bed Inn Bush campaign online at www.sleepbus.org/fundraisers/manninghomelessactiongrouptaree. Donations to sleepbus are tax deductible as sleepbus is a registered charity.
"We shall also be opening a bank account in Taree for those who wish to donate in a branch rather than to us or online," Terry said.
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Julia Driscoll
Julia Driscoll has worked as a journalist for the Wingham Chronicle and Manning River Times for seven years. She values the deep connection with community that being a rural and regional journalist brings. Career highlights have involved environmental stories - bringing the plight of the little known endangered Manning River helmeted turtle to the attention of the public, resulting in wide-spread knowledge in the community and conservation action; and breaking the news of the Manning River ceasing to run for the first time in recorded history.
Julia Driscoll has worked as a journalist for the Wingham Chronicle and Manning River Times for seven years. She values the deep connection with community that being a rural and regional journalist brings. Career highlights have involved environmental stories - bringing the plight of the little known endangered Manning River helmeted turtle to the attention of the public, resulting in wide-spread knowledge in the community and conservation action; and breaking the news of the Manning River ceasing to run for the first time in recorded history.
