Almost 100 homeless people have asked for help this winter on the Border with many on the waiting list to receive a swag from the Uniting Winter Blanket Appeal.
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"Our data shows we have had 91 homeless people seek help, but that is just the number who are asking for it," Uniting emergency relief coordinator Catherine Byrne said.
"It is just staggering the amount of people who are sleeping it rough in our area.
"I have already handed out 12 swags, which are worth around $115 each, and I have enough to purchase 12 more.
"But there are so many people on the waiting list."
The emergency relief appeal hopes to gain some more traction this weekend when Woolworths and Uniting employees sleep out at Uniting Wodonga on Friday night in support of the homeless community.
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And they are encouraging people to donate more cash and blankets on Saturday.
Woolworths Wodonga's Helen Henden said it was a "fun way" to show their support and get involved in the community.
"We will have store managers from Benalla and Corowa as well come and sleepover with us at Uniting Wodonga," she said.
"Sometimes people feel a bit awkward coming to relief organisations and dropping off blankets so we have had some big tubs in our stores where people have been donating their blankets while they come and do their shopping.
"People feel more comfortable that way.
"And our head office also donated $1000 to our cause to help us buy some blankets and kick-start the appeal."
Ms Byrne said without the support of Woolworths they "wouldn't make it through".
"What we get during this appeal has to last 12 months," she said.
"And we were really struggling until Woolworths suggested coming on board and we are now doing really well in terms of providing blankets for those in need.
"The sleepout is a great way for colleagues to show their support and be involved in their community.
"We have a lot of pensioners who are too scared to turn their heaters on, scared they will get a massive power bill, so that is another area of need we supply."
To donate to the Uniting Winter Blanket Appeal visit vt.uniting.org or make blanket donations by dropping them off instore at Woolworths or at ABC Goulburn Murray.
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