CASA are always grateful for the generous support of our local community.

A big thank you to the team at the Mackay Transport and Main Roads Customer Service Centre for this recent donation.

There are so many corporate and individual sponsors that CASA would like to thank for their generous and kind donations to the 2018 Christmas ‘Adopt a Family’.

Some of these include DBCT and their employees, Little Sprouts Chiropractic, Sadie wells Yoga, Shine Lawyers, Beach Road Fitness Sarina, Public Trustee, Department of Natural Resources Mines and Energy, Kelly legal, Youth Mental Health, CBA Bank, Ooralea day care and Slade Point Day Care.

We are truly grateful for all the support and for sharing the community spirit at Christmas time.

Every year the Sisters of Charity Foundation provides grants to community projects and programs. These grants are aimed at helping groups who already make a huge difference for those in need, so they can make an even greater difference.

CASA’s values align with the Sisters of Charity Foundation by providing respect, hope and dignity to our clients who are homeless or at risk of being homeless.

CASA sincerely appreciates the Sisters of Charity Foundation’s offer of a generous donation to provide assistance to clients exiting homelessness.

https://www.sistersofcharityfoundation.com.au/

CASA would not be able to support the Mackay community without the generosity of our many sponsors and supporters.

We are very grateful to Westpac to be awarded a Westpac Foundation Community Grant. This grant is awarded to local not-for-profits who are helping transform the lives of fellow Australians experiencing disadvantage.

CASA has assisted over 1084 men, women and children in just the last month. The Westpac Foundation Community Grant supports us to continue our work and improve the quality of life for people in need.

A big thank you to Mackay Airport for supporting CASA and the Mackay community through their IFly Mackay Community Grants Program.

CASA were the lucky recipient for the month of October and were presented with a cheque for $1000.

A very special thank you Orange Sky Australia for their support for the 2018 Homeless Expo.

Orange Sky Australia is world's first free mobile service for those who are experiencing homelessness and is facilitated by more than 1,000 volunteers (which has expanded to 20 services across Australia). The organisation generates approximately six tonnes of laundry every week and it has been our pleasure to work along side them.

Thank you again, Orange Sky Australia!

On Tuesday 22 May, CASA received a visit from the Hon. Michael de Brenni, Minister for Housing and Public Works, Liza Carroll, Director General, Dept, Housing and Public Works and Bruce Walker, Regional Director (NQ Region), and Glen Cole, Senior Contract Officer, Housing and Homelessness Services.

Minister de Brenni announced that the Queensland Government will be offering a five year service agreement for Specialist Homelessness Services which means ongoing funding for CASA to provide essential services through our Crisis and HomeStage programs.

On the 9th of May, CQUni Mackay's City Campus in Sydney Street offered to host the 2018 Homeless Expo within their undercover basketball court.

A total of 28 swags, 300 bags, and a large amount of clothing, blankets and bedding were donated by various people and organisations such as Endeavour Foundation, Givit, CQU staff members, Mackay Funerals, City Funeral Services, and Mackay Regional council. The Salvation Army also donated 100 generous food hampers to those who attended the event. In addition, 50 haircuts, 43 flu vaccinations (3 more than last year), 8 medical checks, and 15 dental checks (with many booking follow up dental appointments) were issued on the day.

CASA provided 160 ham and salad rolls along side “Real Kebab” who provided over 90 chicken and vegetable soups.

CASA would like to acknowledge our offical attendees;

Cynthia Simpson (CQU), Lorraine Wirth [our official hostess of the day] (CASA), Glenn Cole (DoH), Louise Mitchell (CASA), Steve Spenser (SA) and Dallas Sievers (DHS).

A special thank you to Philip Kemp who provided the “Welcome to Country” opening speech infant of approximately 200 guests.

CASA would also like to say a huge thank you to the CQUni Mackay, Orange Sky Australia, Mackay Women’s Centre and to all the other local agencies that attended the expo and provided support to those homeless members of our community.

Check out some of the photos from the expo below.

CASA is proud to support Orange Sky Australia - Australia’s first mobile laundry service.

Orange Sky provides homeless people with access to free washing/drying facilities. They are a new not-for-profit organisation run by volunteers.

They want to harness the energy of the community who want to help people in need.

Portable washing facilities, specialised hygiene packs and an alliance with other local organisations will work to achieve these goals.

Orange Sky will be located at CASA every Wednesday for 3 hours from 9.30am - 12.30pm so please help us spread the word!

CASA would like to thank GIVIT and their sponsors for their ongoing generosity in providing assistance

GIVIT is a national not-for-profit connecting those who have with those who need, in a private and safe way.

GIVIT works to alleviate poverty in Australia by ensuring every community service provider has what it needs through the simple act of giving. GIVIT is free to use and makes giving easy by allowing you to see exactly what is required by vulnerable community members.

GIVIT supports all agencies, services and charities in Australia who work directly with impoverished, marginalised and vulnerable people. GIVIT makes it easier for organisations to empower their clients and improve quality of life by obtaining the items they require through the website, at no cost. The unique virtual warehouse eliminates the need for organisations to store, sort and dispose of unwanted items, saving valuable time and resources.

An event to raise awareness about homelessness in Mackay. Are you up to the challenge? Come and join us for one night...

When: Wednesday 9 August - 6.30pm (overnight)

Where: Bluewater Quay, River St

Food: Soup, pizza, tea and coffee provided

Costs: Donations accepted - all funds go to the Mackay Drop in Centre

Bring: Swag, street swag / sleeping bag and pillow only (no luxury bedding). Cardboard provided

For more information contact: Lorraine Wirth - CASA: 4951 4299

Alison Jones: 0407 690 248

Sarah Sampson: 0411 598 219

On the 3rd May, CQUni Mackay's City Campus in Sydney Street hosted the 2017 Homeless Expo. A total of 150 food hampers, 23 swags and loads of blankets, clothes, books and toiletries were distributed to those in need. In addition, 35 haircuts, 13 medical checks, 19 dental checks and 40 flu injections were also issued on the day.

CASA provided 180 ham and salad rolls, along with "Real Kebab" who produced 93 kebab meals. Ozcare also supplied 120 cups of chicken and vegetable soup.

Local MP's Julieanne Gilbert and Jim Pearce were in attendance at the expo and officially opened the event.

CASA would like to say a huge thank you to the CQUni and to all the local agencies that attended the expo and provided support to those homeless members of our community.

Check out some of the photos from the expo below.

CASA would like to thank Zephyr Education Inc for providing assistance with essential school items.

Zephyr Education Inc assists children in domestic violence shelters and related organisations make a smooth transition to their new school by providing school shoes and uniforms, textbooks and stationery packs, and by paying school resource and sports fees. Zephyr currently supports vulnerable children in 47 Queensland shelters and 6 Tasmanian shelters. If you would like to help, please see our website at www.zephyreducation.com.au for details on how to donate.

CASA and the Mackay community would like to thank GIVIT and their sponsors for their generosity in providing assistance to cyclone affected families with linen and food vouchers.

Check out the good news story from Good Shepherd Microfinance who is one of our No Interest Loan Scheme (NILS) partners. If you think you could benefit from NILS checkout our info page for more details.

Sharni is a strong young woman who has faced a lot in her life. She now lives in Albury with her three children after 10 years in Melbourne with her ex-boyfriend.

“I had a pretty rough childhood. I grew up all over the place,” said Sharni.

After a difficult relationship, Sharni’s kids were removed from her care. She was committed to do everything she could in order to get them back and part of that plan involved the Women’s Centre for Health and Wellbeing in Albury.

With support from the Women’s Centre, Sharni was able to move from emergency accommodation into a three bedroom house, with the aim of getting her three children back by fulfilling her extensive court conditions.

“I had full-on court conditions that included a lot of counselling… job network stuff, plus I do some volunteer stuff at the partners in recovery program.”

With such demanding conditions money was tight.

“Doing all of that plus doctors, plus access visits, I don’t have the time in the day to work. Or the mental ability at the end of it. Plus I don’t drive, so all of those appointments I have to walk between,” said Sharni.

Sharni had difficulty furnishing her house completely and without the basics her children couldn’t come home to her.

“I was struggling with the house and they referred me to Susie and to NILS. The loan didn’t just pay for my fridge, it covered my storage as well. I didn’t have a lot but it was the stuff that makes a house a home.”

Not long after she purchased her fridge Sharni got a call from the Department of Human Services to say her children were coming home.

“Without the fridge I didn’t have a case to say ‘give me the kids back’, although physically and mentally I was ok, I didn’t have what I needed. If you don’t have a permanent place to live that has the basics, like a fridge, then you can’t present a case. So without NILS I wouldn’t be able to have my kids back. We wouldn’t be able to be a family.”

CASA would like to express our thanks and appreciation to Club Crocodile for their recent donation of house hold items. These items will be utilised by families in our crisis housing.