DRIVING GOOD: Campaign to fund Hawkesbury’s first Vinnies Van
A DAY on the fairways will help put support on the road, with Celestino’s inaugural Charity Golf Day raising funds towards establishing the Hawkesbury’s first Vinnies Van service.
The inaugural Celestino Charity Golf Day at Richmond Golf Club on Thursday, October 29 will help raise funds to go towards a vehicle, fit-out and the resources needed to bring meals, essential supplies and personal support into the community.
Attendees at the event, supported by Hawkesbury News, include a long list of local businesses and community members, professionals and advocates for Vinnies, along with Parliamentary Secretary for Planning and Public Spaces and Blacktown MP Stephen Bali.
For Celestino, which is delivering the Jacaranda master planned community in Glossodia, the initiative reflects a commitment to contribute beyond the boundaries of its development.
There is currently no Vinnies Van service in the Hawkesbury, but through fundraising, there is an aim to establish one out of Vinnies’ Blacktown base, with an eventual goal of establishing a permanent location within the Hawkesbury region.
Celestino CEO Matthew Scard said the golf day aims to raise awareness and money to get the Van initiative rolling, with an eventual target of wheels on the ground as soon as possible in the Hawkesbury.
“Strong communities need support that people can access when they need it, and for this region it is really important that they are not relying on support to come from other already busy areas,” Mr Scard said.
“Through this golf day, we want to help Vinnies bring practical assistance and connection closer to Hawkesbury residents who may otherwise struggle to reach support.”
Vinnies Vans provide free meals, snacks, hot drinks, blankets and toiletries, alongside companionship and referrals to other services, Vinnies CEO Yolanda Saiz said.
“For Hawkesbury residents without private transport, travelling to the nearest Vinnies Support Centre in Penrith can be difficult and a local outreach service would help overcome that barrier while complementing existing assistance,” she said.
In the past financial year, Vinnies’ Richmond Conference, the volunteer group serving the Hawkesbury, completed more than 400 client visits, supporting 131 primary clients and another 208 household members.
The proposed van would help build relationships with people who might otherwise remain disconnected from services.
“A meal and a conversation can be the beginning of someone finding the support they need,” Ms Saiz said.
Below: The Vinnies Van in action.
“Our aim is to meet people where they are, respond to immediate needs and help them connect with ongoing assistance.”
The initiative aligns with Vinnies’ vision for a Blacktown community hub, bringing staff, volunteers and partner organisations together to offer housing assistance, food relief, health services and referrals.
Funding is not only needed for the vehicle and fit-out but also ongoing operating costs and volunteer support.
By bringing businesses and community members together, Celestino’s golf day will contribute towards a service intended to strengthen the Hawkesbury’s support network and provide a welcoming point of connection for local people facing hardship.
The Hawkesbury News is supporting the fund-raising drive. To donate towards a new Vinnies Van, visit: https://donate.vinnies.org.au/appeals-nsw/winter-vans-acq
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