Delivering on message of hope

Help spread the hope: Lieutenant Zak Churchill with Salvos stalwart Terry Cantrill.

By Jeremy Sollars

‘Hope where it’s needed most’ – that’s the motto of the Salvation Army, and this weekend you can help bring that hope to those in need.
The Salvo’s 2017 Red Shield doorknock is on again and Warwick and Stanthorpe Corps officers Lieutenants Zak and Dee-Ann Churchill are putting out the call to dig deep, and to volunteer some of your time to pound the pavement.
The Churchills have been based in Warwick since the start of the year and spend a large chunk of their time providing assistance to people in crisis in our communities.
Having moved from their previous posting in Sydney, Zak says the couple has become acutely aware of the yawning gap in funding for community outreach services between urban and regional Australia.
One of the simplest yet most pressing needs locally is transport to attend medical and other vital appointments in Toowoomba and Brisbane, particularly for our older folk.
The Salvos regularly provide assistance with fuel vouchers for those who need to travel, with Zak giving the example of an elderly member of the Salvos’ Stanthorpe congregation.
“He’s an 83-year-old gentleman who needs regular eye injections in hospital in Toowoomba,” Zak told the Free Times this week.
“He still drives and is fine getting himself around Stanthorpe but the two-hour trip to Toowoomba is too much – he relies on a friend to drive him.
“It’s not as bad if you’re part of a community, such as a church, but if you’re living alone and you’re isolated, particularly in a rural or outlying area, what do you do?
“We come across a lot of people who need to attend specialist and surgical appointments at the bigger hospitals, and even people who need to attend a funeral out of town and have no fuel money.”
Zak and Dee-Ann’s community assistance is focused on those in short-term crisis – such as financial strain from unexpected medical expenses – as opposed to long-term welfare support.
Our local Salvos had a part-time case worker who resigned a couple of months ago and they currently don’t have the budget to replace her.
Food vouchers and help with basic living expenses are also common requests for the Churchills, with Zak saying homelessness in Warwick and Stanthorpe is a big issue, but one largely hidden with the ‘couch-surfing’ phenomenon.
But they’re not alone in the community sector with many local providers struggling against the tide of need with a lack of funding from all levels of government for regional support services.
“There is definitely an imbalance there when you look at what regional areas get in terms of funding compared to the major cities,” Zak said.
“We are seeing the same kinds of needs here as we did in Sydney, but there’s just not the same level of service provision.
“The beauty of Red Shield is that it allows up to open a lot of new doors to refer people to.”
People in need of help from the Salvation Army should initially contact the ‘Salvos Connect’ helpline on 1300 371 288.

Red Shield details
Lt Dee-Ann Churchill has been collecting donations in Rose City Shoppingworld from Monday of this week to today, Thursday 25 May.
Glennie Heights Scout Group will be doorknocking in Glennie Heights today.
Fund-raising barbecues at Warwick Bunnings and Warwick Spano’s IGA on Saturday.
Volunteers doorknocking in Warwick over the weekend and in Stanthorpe on Sunday.
To volunteer call Lt Zak Churchill on 4661 3617 and for more information on the Salvos visit www.salvos.org.au