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A BORDER charity is stepping up to the plate on homelessness.
Restart Albury Wodonga has been collecting and distributing household items for homeless and needy people since May.
Volunteers Jade Tauber, Nikki Storm and Angela Pesavento created the not-for-profit organisation to try to address rising homelessness on our doorstep.
Ms Storm said poverty was a reality for a growing number of people on the Border.
“More and more people are getting into difficulties with the rising cost of living,” Ms Storm said.
“People need to know poverty exists on the Border; at the end of the day anyone can become homeless.
“We have people sleeping the Botanic Gardens in Albury, we have people sleeping in Junction Place.”
Restart Albury Wodonga supports homeless youth, families and individuals with re-establishing not only a permanent house but a home as well as those in poverty or crisis.
Ms Storm said her group worked with about six organisations in Albury-Wodonga to deliver household goods and hygiene products to those most in need.
“Our aim is to provide start-up packages of all the necessities people need going into an empty home,” she said.
“We get donations of cleaning products, hygiene packs, manchester; anything you need to start a household. Everything we collect locally stays locally.”
Aware Industries provides warehouse space in Wodonga free of charge to Restart Albury Wodonga.
Individuals and businesses willing to donate can leave small items at Jones Street Takeaway, Albury; Anytime Fitness North Albury; Anytime Fitness Wodonga; Anytime Fitness Albury City; Wicked Balloons, 917 Mate Street, Albury; The Tranquility Room, Level 1/ 438 Dean Street, Albury; Ella Bache, AMP Lane Albury; Pakstat, 421 Kiewa Street, Albury; AON Insurance, 541 Kiewa Street, Albury; Wodonga Chamber of Commerce, Tafe Space, Lawrence Street, Wodonga; and Grealy Motors, 12 Reid Street, Wodonga.
Ms Storm said the group was desperately in need of people who could volunteer to pick up and distribute donated furniture.
Restart Albury Wodonga will host a Friday Night Fundraiser at Zed Bar in Albury on September 4.
There will be a silent auction and Sam Campbell will play until 10pm.
To book or prepay a ticket for the fundraiser email admin@restartalburywodonga.com.au.
For information visit restartalburywodonga.com.au.
