Rotary Support for the Rae Burgess Centre

Anglicare’s Rae Burgess Centre began from a trust established from a bequest by Sister Rae Burgess, who initially saw a need for a women’s service. The Centre, which operates out of the CWA premises at Banjo Paterson Park, Yass, now supports men, women and families in need. Over the past year the Anglicare team assisted over 600 people in Yass and the surrounding region through housing and emergency relief services. This need continues to grow as COVID-19 restrictions, rising rents and increased living costs put further emotional and financial stress on individuals and families.

Yass Rotary Club marked National Homelessness Week last fortnight with a generous donation to the Rae Burgess Centre’s Anglicare’s Homelessness and Housing team to create ‘Winter Warmer’ packs for local people in need. Rotary President Nick Newling and Mandy Carter had the pleasure of handing over a cheque to the Anglicare team last week, with the funds used to create hampers of non-perishable food, socks, gloves and other items to assist people during the winter months.

Mr Newling said, “Yass Rotary acknowledges the importance of the Rae Burgess Centre to the community and it has a healthy history of continuous support.

“Although Anglicare is a government funded initiative, donations from organisations like Yass Rotary enable the team to offer extra services to families, letting them know that their community is thinking of them and caring for them.”

Amanda Green, Anglicare’s Homelessness and Housing Coordinator in Yass, said “Winter is a difficult time of year for people experiencing housing stress or homelessness. Additional costs for warmer clothing and heating means sometimes families can’t afford other essentials like groceries. That’s why we’re so grateful to the Yass Rotary Club for their incredible generosity as we know that these packs will give ‘breathing space’ to families who are feeling overwhelmed and whose budgets are stretched.”

For more information about supporting or joining Yass Rotary, email yassrotary@gmail.com.

For more information about Anglicare’s services, or to support this work, visit www.anglicare.com.au

• Topics:

• Rotary
• Community