Pyrmont Cares needs storage space

Despite struggling with a lack of storage space, Good Samaritans are working to help Pyrmont residents live a higher quality life.

Pyrmont Cares is a local charity that delivers furniture and white goods to people in the city.

President of Pyrmont Cares, Peter Devoy, said the charity began when he decided to deliver furniture to those in need.

“Pyrmont Cares commenced about 18 months ago, when John Hoff and I began delivering furniture to disadvantaged people in Sydney from the back of a ute,” he said.

“We now have 34 volunteers and have purchased a three-tonne truck with a lift. We have also fully furnished over 60 dwellings as well as taking single items to those in need.”

Communications Officer for Pyrmont Cares, Kim Ella, said the charity helped a large number of people.

“Mission Australia, Weave Youth Family Community and Hope Street Urban Compassion – in particular – received much needed household items,” she said.

Mr Devoy said the group was facing a number of logistical challenges.

“Our major problem is storage. We applied to the City [of Sydney] Council for storage about 15 months ago but we have not been successful,” he said.

“At the present time we have been donated two small cages at Storage King in Balmain. The overflow of furniture is stored at Parramatta; however this has been a problem as it takes our volunteers over two hours to get there and back.”

But these issues have not prevented Pyrmont Cares from providing a high quality of service to inner city people.

Former Deputy Lord Mayor of Sydney, Marcelle Hoff, said a clear indication of the quality of the service was illustrated by the way the organisation met the needs of one disadvantaged woman.

“A woman had just moved into social housing after being homeless for some time. She had mentioned she’d appreciate a second-hand sewing machine; we ended up with five sewing machines – one of them brand new,” she said.

“The used machines became part of a TAFE NSW Outreach program whereby the TAFE tutors organised sewing lessons for disadvantaged people at Woolloomooloo.”