Emergency Relief - Information

Dear Averil
Thank you very much to you and Samaritans for helping my family in a very difficult situation. Asking for help can be hard sometimes, but coming across such wonderful caring people like yourself restores your faith in human kindness.
Thank you for not judging me and listening to me and going out of your way to help. I never planned to come into the Church that morning, but for some reason I did…and the assistance you gave me really helped.
The kids came home from school and they said is the power on Mum? I said yes, thanks to some wonderful people I met today.
Thanks again,
Linda & family

The letter above was received at Samaritans recently. Linda is a mother of five children. The youngest, Grace was born 9 weeks premature. Linda, who worked on and off while raising her five children, was forced to go to Sydney while Grace received medical attention.

When Linda came to Samaritans her family was experiencing financial problems, they had an unpaid energy bill, no power and no hot water. They were forced to cook dinner on a BBQ at the local park.

Emergency Relief volunteer Averil Oxendale recalls that Linda’s decision to approach Samaritans was driven by her need to heat the baby’s bottles. It was her first visit to Samaritans.

Samaritans assisted Linda and her family by getting the power connected that day, providing nappies, food, vouchers and clothing for the children. The family was referred to other agencies, the Ombudsman and Christians Against Poverty to assist her further.

The story above is true. Every week, people who have no where else to go come to Samaritans to help.

Each month Samaritans provides more than 1,000 families with emergency assistance and relief throughout the Hunter and Central Coast regions.

In these times of an increasing gap between the “haves” and the “have-nots” Samaritans is experiencing an increasing demand for these services and a changing profile of people requiring assistance. Samaritans provides direct and practical assistance to those in need. Assistance includes utility vouchers, clothing, food parcels, financial advice and referral to other community services.

This work is made possible by the dedicated and committed work of Samaritans volunteers who now number more close to 500. Centres operate at Broadmeadow, Cessnock, East Maitland, Gorokan, Mayfield, Morisset, Teralba and Wyoming. Click here for more detailed information.

If you are interested in volunteering your services in this area or for further information please contact us during business hours Monday to Friday by telephone on 02 4922 1530 or by email at peggy.saunders@hunterlink.net.au or go to Volunteering With Samaritans.