Sleepout raises much-needed funds for local youth
GFG Alliance volunteers from our Whyalla operations have stepped up, or more precisely camped out, for Mission Australia’s first Whyalla Winter Sleepout.
The Mission Australia inaugural event proved an outstanding success with more than $27,000 raised for youth experiencing homelessness in the region. An initiative from Community Engagement Officer Dan Bateman, the GFG Alliance team of Noel Goldsworthy, Walter Richards, Raquel Stankovic and Chris Smyth led the way with more than $5800 raised.
It is wonderful that this money will go directly towards helping youth in our community and raising awareness of this issue
Raquel Stankovic
More than 30 participants from various Whyalla community groups and businesses, camped out under makeshift cardboard shelters in Ada Ryan Gardens for one chilly night during September to raise the funds that will go directly to local youth.
Emerging from his cardboard tent on Saturday morning, Chris said the example set by the GFG Alliance team of volunteers amongst other community teams was inspiring and something he hopes will lead to more involvement at next year’s event and others.
“This was a team of leaders simply wanting to support the town in which we work and many live in,” Chris said.
“We hope it will also encourage more team members to get involved in these sort of community endeavours because events like this not only raise awareness but also result in practical support and help for our youth experiencing homelessness.
“We support of lot of groups through our corporate sponsorship programs but this sort of involvement really goes to the heart of community.
“A big thanks to Dan (Bateman) for her hard work to get our team organised and everyone in our business and family and friends that generously donated to the cause and our team.”
Mission Australia Acting Program Manager in Whyalla, Wenona Waugh said the response for the first-ever sleepout in the region was amazing. The event was co-ordinated by the Mission Australia Whyalla office with a committee made up of community groups including the Whyalla City Council, Centacare, Wellness Centre, Housing SA and headspace.
“We were pleasantly surprised with the response and the positive feedback the event received from community groups, businesses and those that slept out,” Wenona said.
“This event highlighted the hidden issue that sees many young people simply without a home and forced to sleep on couches, temporary accommodation or wherever they can find a sheltered spot.”
We support of lot of groups through our corporate sponsorship programs but this sort of involvement really goes to the heart of community
Chris Smyth
This was one of the messages delivered on the night to the sleepout volunteers by Mission Australia staff member Kirsty Colbert who has experienced homelessness herself after growing up in Whyalla.
“As a mother, the experience of sleeping rough and hearing stories like Kirsty’s, was a great insight, very moving and really hit home what a serious, and largely hidden, issue homelessness is in our community for young people,” Racquel said.
“Until you do it (sleep rough) and then hear the stories, you don’t really understand what is happening in our town.
“It is wonderful that this money will go directly towards helping youth in our community and raising awareness of this issue.”
The GFG Alliance team of sleepout volunteers who were proud to have raised the most money from their generous colleagues, family and friends were joined by other community groups. In all the $27,237 raised was on par with similar events held by Mission Australia in major cities around the country and included a generous donation the Tilt Renewables operation in Whyalla.
The funds raised will go towards essential item backpacks and sleeping bags for those experiencing homelessness in Whyalla. There are also plans to send youths-in-need to Operation Flinders, a camp in the Flinders Ranges that helps young people build optimism, belonging, hope and emotional wellbeing with a focus on resilience, purpose and connection.
Main image: Abigail VanDerTuck from Mission Australia and Raquel Stankovic with the sleeping bags and backpacks that will go to youth experiencing homelessness in Whyalla. Middle right: The Whyalla GFG Alliance team emerges from its night in the park. Above: Mission Australia’s Wenona Waugh (centre) presents the Whyalla GFG Alliance volunteers, Noel Goldsworthy, Raquel Stankovic, Walter Richards and Chris Smyth with their certificate of appreciation.
Read more about GFG Alliance community support
