As Volunteer Week (May 15-21) approaches, the members of Macs Friends Helping Neighbours continues its work supporting locals in the community who need emergency help in the short term.
Twenty residents volunteer to offer the sort of help that falls between the cracks when Council-funded services and family are unable to help.
“Small acts of kindness change quality of life,” group publicity officer Jill Danks said.
“Who else would dog-sit in shifts over seven days to care for a dachshund recovering from back surgery while his mum went to work?
“Our volunteers did, making sure Humphry got outside when he needed to go and keeping him calm and comforted.
“Changing light bulbs for older people who can’t safely climb a ladder, or changing batteries in smoke alarms are some of the small jobs we do that don’t take work away from our local tradies yet keep our older locals safe.
“Everyone loves a cake stall, so our volunteers baked to raise funds for a local family whose little boy is going through two years of cancer treatment at Westmead Children’s Hospital.”
Danks said there was a lot of informal generous community support in Macs, as in most small communities.
“The reason we organised into a not-for-profit group was to make sure our volunteers and the people we help are safe and covered by volunteer insurance when they drive someone to an appointment, deliver the shopping into a kitchen or trim a tree that’s blocking access to someone’s home,” she said.
Other examples of the group’s volunteer support include: helping older locals navigate the features on iPads and iPhones, such as saving precious photos or creating a contact list; collecting prescriptions from the chemist when people are unwell; and helping with forms and online shopping for locals with eyesight problems.
For more information about how to get help or to become a volunteer in Macmasters Beach contact Jill Danks 0401 856 420.
Source:
Macs Friends Helping Neighbours