By TANIA PHILLIPS
A GROUP aimed at helping the Tweed’s homeless and marginalised people has received a Christmas helping hand of their own thanks to a local business.
South Coast Mazda at Tweed Heads this week donated an entire pallet of food for the group You Have A Friend, to distribute as part of their Christmas Hampers to the area’s growing homeless population.
You Have A Friend, a not-for-profit charity staffed by volunteers, is the brainchild of former Tweed Shire Volunteer of the Year John Lee.
Mr Lee said the donation had been very welcome as they had been struggling to reach their target of 200 hampers this year.
“It really has been wonderful,” he said.
Mr Lee said they looked set to finish with just 100 hampers despite the efforts of seven schools across the valley until Mazda had come to their rescue.
It was the second time in two years that the business had lent a helping hand to the organisation, supporting them and adding the extra money to help them get a much needed van last year.
South Coast Mazda general manager Richard Robinson said they had been looking for a way to help the business.
“When their annual CEO Sleep-out was cancelled we started talking to John about being able to supply tinned food to the needy and homeless,” he said.
“I thought ‘what could I do as a corporate citizen’ to help. We heard they were trying to put together 200 Christmas hampers and so we went through Campbells Cash and Carry and they were happy to oblige and put the food together.”
John Lee said the organisation, through their volunteers, supported people in Coolangatta, Tweed, Chinderah, Murwillumbah, Mt Warning, Uki and Wooyung.
“Our volunteers are our lifeblood. Without our dedicated volunteers we are unable to support our Friends in the way needed,” Mr Lee said.
“We outreach on a weekly basis in the Tweed district. We provide over 320 meals each week to those in need in the Tweed district. We also support caravan parks, housing commission complexes and boarding houses.
“At each outreach we provide tinned food as well as blankets and clothing to those who need it.”
Mr Lee said Tweed Heads had the highest homeless per capita rate in NSW and as of February 2011, there were more women sleeping on the streets of Tweed Heads than there were men. The waiting list for Department of Housing available accommodation in Tweed Heads is about 20 years.
