The State Emergency Service’s (SES) Footscray unit received an early Christmas present last year when a local church gave them a $10,000 donation.
Maidstone’s Inglesia Ni Cristo (INC) church donated the money last October, giving the members of the unit a very pleasant surprise.
“We were certainly not expecting such a generous donation and we were absolutely thrilled to receive it,” said Footscray SES member Amanda Stevens of the cash injection, which three months on, the unit is still deciding what to do with.
“We’re keen to make sure that the money is put to good use to benefit the community,” said Ms Stevens, adding that donations, both large and small, make up a significant portion of their funding.
“Obviously we get government funding but it doesn’t cover all of our costs, so we do rely on donations from the community too.”
While the size of the donation might’ve taken unit members aback, it wasn’t completely out of the blue.
Last year a group of children and young people from INC visited the Footscray SES as part of a project to thank people and organisations those who work for and help the community.
“They gave us a presentation and expressed their gratitude to us and and all of the children made drawings which they presented to our volunteers,” said Ms Stevens of the visit.
While they don’t expect them to result in $10,000 gifts, Ms Stevens said other community groups were welcome to come and tour their Footscray headquarters too, while much smaller cash donations were always welcome.
“The less time we have to be out rattling tins the more time we have to serve the community,” she said.
To donate: www.givenow.com.au/sesfootscray
To contact the Footscray SES: footscray@ses.vic.gov.au
Cade Lucas.
