Launceston’s Cassie Harris first came to City Mission as a 14-year-old after the death of her mother.
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Now more than 20 years later, she says without its support she would be “lost”.
“I always think about where I would be without City Mission’s help and I really think I would be in the gutter, which is where I started,” she said.
“City Mission is the key for the homeless in Launceston.
“If it wasn’t here, I would be starving.”
On Monday, a campaign to collect 30,000 items for City Mission between March 26 and May 6 was launched.
The Mission Possible campaign is a combined effort of Fairfax Tasmania, with The Examiner and The Advocate each hoping to collect 15,000 items.
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Family Services Team Leader Nicky Gray said without Mission Possible, City Mission wouldn’t be able to do all the “great work” that it does.
“We rely heavily on the community donations coming through and without the support it would be impossible to meet those daily needs,” Mr Gray said.
“Last year we gave away well over 2000 food parcels to needy families and individuals and nearly $43,000 worth of food.
“They say there is around 14 per cent of Tasmanians considered to be low-income earners. That has a great impact on people who are struggling.
“If we could capture what we see on a daily basis and put that in your veins, so you can get the full understanding of how difficult it is and some of the stories that we hear.
“There is no norm except for financial poverty or the difference between the haves and the have nots. We are so grateful to the generous donations that come through.”
Community organisations, clubs, schools and groups are encouraged to register their own collection sites to help support the campaign.
About 3000 families in the North and North-West received assistance as part of the first campaign held last year, with more than 20,000 items collected during the 2017 appeal.
Ideal items for donation will have a long shelf life and City Mission also seeking donations of pharmaceutical goods, toiletries or items that support women with babies.
Chief Exectutive Stephen Brown said the appeal was a great example of a “collective effort” within the community, to assists those most vulnerable.
Jessica Willard
Being a health reporter to me is about more than just reporting the problems. It's about asking why they are happening in the first place and what needs to change to fix it.
Being a health reporter to me is about more than just reporting the problems. It's about asking why they are happening in the first place and what needs to change to fix it.
