Kyle Barrett said the club had decided to pursue a hyper-local focus for the next financial year.

“The Examiner Winter relief appeal benefits a wide variety of uniquely Launceston organisations,” he said.

“Our community faces lots of both new and old challenges, this is our club’s way of lifting our local community up.”

Treasurer Alissa Hodge said all of the club members live and work in the local community so it was important to them to give back. 

“We also sponsor a child in the Phillipines and thought it was important to extend that same support to our local community,” she said.

“We are all aware of how lucky we are to have secure employment and appreciate that for those who are not so fortunate winter can be a very trying time.”

Increasing costs of living combined with unemployment rates meant anyone could find themselves in need said Miss Hodge.

“When my relationship broke down and I had no money and had to find a new place to live in 24 hours I had so many people I could call on and it was sorted. But I hate to think what would have happened if I didn't have that network,” she said.

“As soon as circumstances change, no matter how easy or great life was before that moment, it can all come crashing down and I think a lot of us forget that.

“Some of the people who this appeal helps are those who had a sudden change in circumstance whether it was a loss of income or illness.”

She firmly believed that all it takes is just one thing to fall apart for people to need help.

“Then everything else falls like dominoes and we as a community need to be there to help pick people back up when they fall because I sure as hell would want to be picked up if it was me,” Miss Hodge said.

Mr Barrett said he personally knew two people who had been forced to couch surf to survive.

“It's a reflection of who we are as individuals but also a reflection of our community how we support the most vulnerable in our community,” he said.

The Rotaract Club is a part of Rotary International.

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