An inner-city hostel brought Christmas cheer to hundreds of its homeless patrons despite waning donations to its annual appeal.
The Matthew Talbot Hostel in Woolloomooloo, run by the St. Vincent De Paul Society of NSW, served full breakfast, lunch and dinner meals to almost 1000 patrons, and handed out Christmas gifts and 500 hampers on Christmas day.
The hostel, which assists more than 35 600 men annually, is the largest of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere; it provides 98 crisis accommodation beds as well as meals, clothing and healthcare.
Julie McDonald, Manager of Community and Corporate Relations at the St. Vincent De Paul Society of NSW, said: “With the generous donations from ordinary Australians, we can continue to help right over the Christmas period and into 2012.”
The St. Vincent De Paul Society helped 120 000 people over the Christmas period – in addition to support at the Matthew Talbot Hostel – at a cost of more than $3.7 million, but struggled to meet the target for its annual appeal just days before Christmas.
It was hoped that $1.3 million would be raised through charitable donations to the Christmas appeal but, overall, donations fell by 21 per cent.
“We just ask that those who have the capacity to give do so, so that the many Australians barely keeping their head above water can get some help this Christmas,” Ms. McDonald said.
Vinnies relies heavily on the work of its many volunteers, especially at Christmas. Gayus Donoghue, 92, has volunteered with the St. Vincent De Paul Society for 50 years and spent the holidays making up and delivering Christmas hampers to those in need.
Despite the decline in donations, the services provided by both the St. Vincent De Paul Society and the Matthew Tallbot Hostel continue to be in high demand.
Ms. McDonald said the demand on Vinnies continues to escalate as those already struggling to make ends meet turn to the organisation for assistance.
There has been an increase of 20% of those needing assistance since the 2009-2010 holiday period.
By Kristen Amiet
