This week REIWA CEO Cath Hart met with Salvation Army National Head of Fundraising Janine Kewming to acknowledge a decade of partnership that has raised more than $1 million for the Salvos community programs in WA.
After attending The Salvation Armys Annual Christmas Appreciation event, Ms Hart said it was a wonderful opportunity to reflect on REIWAs relationship with The Salvation Army.
REIWA has been supporting The Salvation Army since 2013 through our Community REInvest program. Our members have taken part in events like the Red Shield Appeal, Sleeping Bag Appeal and the Christmas Appeal. We also raise funds at our own events, such as the recent Golf Day.
To date, we have donated over $1 million to the Salvos to assist them in the very important work they do to support those experiencing homelessness and/or family and domestic violence.
This equates to 3,615 nights of emergency accommodation at the Salvos Beacon crisis accommodation centre in Northbridge, 24,000 nutritious meals and 9,159 hours of case worker support for Western Australians impacted by homelessness.
For the 2021-2022 financial year our support was just over $160,000.
REIWAs involvement with The Salvation Army through the Community REInvest program goes beyond raising funds.
Im very proud of the additional support REIWA and our members provide, Ms Hart said.
In particular, REIWA delivers its Tenancy Training program at The Beacon, which helps residents make the transition from homelessness to independent living as a tenant in a private rental.
And over the years various members have also directly helped people find rental accommodation when their own efforts failed.
Through the Community REInvest program REIWA staff and members have also given 300 hours of corporate volunteering for Salvation Army programs, including serving meals during community lunch sessions and wrapping gifts ready for Christmas.
In the next few weeks, an army of REIWA volunteers will set up a toy shop at the Salvos headquarters in Northbridge, where those doing it tough can shop for Christmas presents for loved ones and grocery items to add a Christmas touch to meals over the festive season.
It is a pleasure and a privilege to partner with The Salvation Army, Ms Hart said.
They’re in the middle of their Christmas Appeal and if you want to support them you can donate via theirwebsiteor drop off gifts or non-perishable food at one of our 57 participating real estateagencies as well as REIWA headquarterson Hay Street, Subiaco.
