By Belinda Nolan
KIND-HEARTED Sunshine residents raised more than $25,000, during this year’s Red Shield Appeal, the biggest fundraising effort in more than 15 years.
The Sunshine Salvation Army has been staggered by the generosity of the community after $25,046 was raised last month, the highest figure brought in since 1994.
The sum marks a 33 per cent jump on last year, when a grand total of $18,700 was raised.
Sunshine Salvation Army’s Captain Nigel Platts told Star he was continually touched by the generosity of locals, who always dug deep to help those less fortunate.
“We’ve seen people driving battered up old cars who look like they could use help themselves and they’re often the people that stop, while often it’s the people driving the Mercedes Benz that just drive past,” Captain Platts said.
“We were really happy with the effort, especially when you consider everything that happened in the last month and all the appeals there have been.”
Captain Platts said he believed the record fundraising was due in part to an extra six volunteers who had signed on to help this year.
“It just proves to us once again that the more collectors we have at the intersection the more funds we collect. It really makes a big difference.”
The money raised will be used towards the Salvation Army’s social programs, including domestic violence and homelessness.
