Help put food in the pantry during Homelessness Week

Moreton Bay locals are being asked to dig deep to help the city’s homeless community as the cost-of-living crisis drives up the number of families and individuals sleeping rough.

As part of Homelessness Week (August 5-11) the team from Community Bank Samford have partnered with Encircle Community Services to help restock their pantry by running a community collection drive.

They are seeking items such as tents, swags, sleeping bags, warm clothing, non-perishable food, cooking utensils, hygiene products, and first aid kits, which will be distributed to people in need.

Knowing the great work Encircle do to help the less fortunate, Community Bank Samford Senior Branch Manager, Mandy Bell, said she is proud to help make a difference in the lives of others.

“Encircle is a dedicated not-for-profit organisation that offers a diverse range of programs and services to support individuals and families here in Moreton Bay,” Mandy said.

“We know the number of people who are becoming homeless in our city is rising, and organisations like Encircle need more assistance than ever before to help meet demand, so we are proud to partner with them to help bring in more donations so they in turn, can help more people.

“People can donate to them any time of the year, but by us running this collection drive now, we hope to give them a lot of donations in bulk, so they have everything they need, and the team can go out and do a big handout.

“We also don’t want them to be worrying about running out of donations, which happened only a few days ago.”

So far, the appeal is off to a good start, which Mandy hopes will continue.

“Even though Homelessness Week runs from August 5-11, we started the appeal a few days early, and already have seen a lot of generosity from the local community, which has just blown me away,” Mandy said.

“Members of the Lions Club came in with piles of handmade scarves and beanies for us to give to the homeless.

“We actually gave the Lions Club a grant so they could buy wool to make scarves and beanies for the hospital, but what they have done is turn that around and give everything they made back to us so we can give then give those items to the homeless.

“We have also received some beautiful quilts, and one lady even went to Rivers when they had a sale and bought a big bag of clothing.

“Our staff have also jumped on board to donate, and they love seeing people come in with bags full of items for the appeal.”

Community Bank Samford Business Development Manager, Courtney Senior, said the appeal is a wonderful way for other people to help make a difference.

“We are keen to expand our footprint and reach more people in Moreton Bay, so I have been meeting with lots of community groups, organisations and residents in the Pine Rivers area and as far out as Narangba,” Courtney explained.

“While I have been meeting with these groups, everyone has been talking about how the number of homeless people in the community has been increasing, and how badly they want to help.

“It is an issue that a lot of people are concerned about, so this appeal is a fantastic way for people to give back.

“If everyone can donate one or two items, it will quickly add up.”

One of Courtney’s new partnerships is with Bray Park State High school, who have signed on to become a distribution point for the collection drive.

Bray Park State High School Vice Principal Rhys Holmes said it is important they teach the kids to think about others.

“We know our school community wants to help out because we have been involved in different appeals like this before,” Rhys said.

“By being able to provide those opportunities, especially with our students, we can help make an enormous difference.

“With 1800 students, that’s 1800-odd families that are involved in our community.

“Knowing some of our families have turned to Encircle in the past, we are proud to support them when they have supported our families.”

As the Team Leader for Encircle’s Homeless Outreach Access Program (HOAP), Brooke Dunning has seen firsthand how desperate people living on the street are.

“There are so many people out there struggling because they have nothing,” Brooke said.

“Due to this cost-of-living crisis, a lot of people have nowhere to go, and can’t afford the essentials.

“I know a lot of people are doing it tough, but even if you could donate one thing, we would be extremely grateful.

“I also want to thank Community Bank Samford, Bray Park State High School, and everyone else who is involved, not just in this collection drive, but every other time you have helped as well.

“I can’t stress the impact it has had on our clients – being able to provide them with the basic essentials and seeing how grateful they are, is why we do what we do.”

When it comes to donations of camping gear, Brooke said solar is better because “a lot of people don’t have anywhere to charge things”.

Above: Community Bank Samford Senior Branch Manager Mandy Bell, Bray Park State High School Vice Principal Rhys Holmes, HOAP Team Leader Brooke Dunning, and Community Bank Samford Business Development Manager Courtney Senior. 

How you can help

If you would like to pick up a few items to help the homeless, here is a list of some of the most essential items that are needed:

• Shelter and sleeping – Tents, swags, sleeping bags, thermal blankets, sleeping mats, tarpaulins, and pillows.
• Clothing and footwear – Jackets, sweaters, socks, underwear, ponchos, raincoats, hats, gloves, comfortable and durable shoes.
• Food and cooking – non-perishable food items, portable stove/camping stove, cooking utensils, reusable water bottles, food storage containers.
• Hygiene and sanitation – Solar showers, soap, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, feminine hygiene products, wet wipes, hand sanitizer, towels, laundry detergent.
• Health and safety – First aid kids, and personal safety items like whistles and pepper spray.

NOTE: Only new items will be accepted.

Alternatively, if you would like to make a cash donation, you can do so via this bank account:

• Account name: Encircle Community Services Ltd
• Account number: 162 815 552
• BSB: 014 271
• Reference: Homeless

Donations will be accepted until Tuesday, August 13.

Drop off points

Donations can be dropped off at the following locations during office hours:

• Encircle Pine Rivers Neighbourhood Centre - 865 Gympie Rd, Lawnton.
• Community Bank Samford - Unit 3/37 Main St, Samford Valley.
• Bray Park State High School - 27-37 Lavarack Rd, Bray Park.
• Samford State School - School Road, Samford.
• Shane King’s MP office - 236 Young Rd, Narangba.

Helping people off the streets

Encircle’s Homeless Outreach Access Program (HOAP) provides support to individuals and families experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness in the Moreton Bay region.

Currently, Encircle have a team of four people who are available to help during the day, and they have also just put together an evening crew, meaning they can soon offer support 24 hours a day, hopefully by the end of the month.

“If someone has called a homeless hotline, they can come in for brief intervention immediately,” Brooke said.

“We are based in Moreton Bay, and the only eligibility we have is that you must be 18 and over and be unhoused.

“We work very closely with the Department of Housing and City of Moreton Bay Council. We will go out with the team from Department of Critical Housing and then we will go out with the public liaison members from Council, so it is a collaborative approach.

“Both of them have been very supportive in our outreach efforts – we are all very focused on what is happening and come together as a team.”

In the past year, Brooke said the number of people who have reached out for help has doubled.

“In the last financial year, we supported 424 households, and 336 of those clients were new users, so people who have never used a service before.

“We are seeing a lot of first-time users which is concerning because of the living crisis we are in now.

“The year before it was half, so we have doubled our number of support.

“But we also have some good results – out of the 424 households, HOAP successfully housed 49 percent, which equates to 212 households.

“We have also helped 319 people with brokerage claims, so that could look like helping them get identification, birth certificates, a tent, or any sort of barriers they are having to overcome and what they need.”

If you or someone you know needs help, visit Encircle’s website or phone the Pine Rivers Neighbourhood Centre on 3889 0063 for more information.