The Carevan Foundation has continued to lend a helping hand to those in the community who need it most throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
But now the organisation is calling on border residents to throw some support behind them on Friday.
The not-for-profit organisation is one of 30 charities around the country to be named a recipient of Beyond Bank Australia's Double Donation Day fundraising campaign.
For 24 hours Beyond Bank will match any donations made to Carevan up to a limit of $5000.
Carevan director Jacqui Partington said there's been a significant increase in residents who have sought out the service during the pandemic, and expects this to continue to climb as government stimulus packages such as jobseeker are wound back this week.
Since March the organisation has provided over 5000 nightly meals in takeaway form and provided hundreds of school lunches.
"During the pandemic Carevan certainly hasn't shied away from doing the hard yards, adapting and changing what we do to make sure those in our community who need support get it," Ms Partington said.
IN OTHER NEWS:
"We network with other local agencies and have made hundreds of referrals dealing with increased mental health, domestic violence, homelessness, financial counselling, women's health, drug and alcohol addiction and more.
"The warm and nutritious meal that we offer is much needed, but it is also about the human connection coupled with a sense of belonging, which can go along way in improving and sometimes even saving one's life.
"Our aim is to improve the lives of others with every interaction."
Carevan runs a Kids Cooking and Caring program which usually sees secondary school students help to prepare food for the evening meal initiative.
However, due to restrictions and the border closure, volunteers have spent more time in the kitchen and making deliveries in the past few months.
"With only one paid staff member and a skeleton bank of volunteers this has been a massive achievement," Ms Partington said.
She said any money raised on Friday would go a long way in assisting Carevan to continue to help provide support for vulnerable residents.
"There's a lot of people in our community who are struggling more than ever," she said.
Donations can be made via Beyond Bank's website under Double Donation Day.