Rotary Club will make swags available to locals sleeping rough
The service club will provide 20 shelter bags this winter, thanks in part to a donation from Murray Bridge Club.
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It can be hard to estimate how many people are homeless in the Murraylands at present: perhaps a few dozen, perhaps hundreds.
Whatever the number, the Rotary Club of Mobilong and Murray Bridge and District Community Club are determined to do something about it.
The Rotary Club plans to buy 20 “shelter bags” to give away to people who need them in the coming months.
The community club recently granted the Rotarians $1000 for the purpose.
The canvas bags offer protection from the rain, a thin mattress on the bottom and a pocket for any valuables, all in a package which can be rolled up and slung over one shoulder.
Rotarian Jill Reddin said the local club would order the bags through the Rotary Club of Gawler, which was organising a bulk order for communities around Australia.
“We had a guest speaker come and talk about the shelter bags and we thought gosh, that would be a good project to be involved in,” she said.
The bags are likely to be distributed through organisations which already provide services to people who are experiencing homelessness or sleeping rough, such as AC Care, the Salvation Army or SA Police.
They are likely to be available in about April.
The Murray Bridge Club regularly provides donations of up to $1000 to deserving local causes through its community support program.
- More information about the shelter bags: Email mobilong.rotary@gmail.com.
- Apply for sponsorship from Murray Bridge Club: Call Shane Barton-Ancliffe or Tracey Lehmann on 8532 3300, or email mbclub@mbclub.com.au.
