Homeless care package

We Care Gisborne Rotary Club have assembled 100 packs of donated items. Left to right Richard Stewart, Julie Warnes, Stuart Bonnington, Martin Warnes and Brendon Watters. Pic: Marco De Luca

By Jessica Micallef

Gisborne’s homelessness problem has spurred Rotary Club members into action.

Rotary committee member Brendan Watters said the club’s We Care project was receiving a great response from the community.

“Cobaw Health recently announced that there are 105 registered homeless people in the Macedon Ranges area,” Mr Watters said. “Rotary was shocked to hear of this statistic.

“We contacted Cobaw Health and they told us that the most urgent need was for toiletry items.

“In response, we have organised collection bins for toiletry items such as soap, toothpaste, [and] shampoo in Gisborne library, Macedon Ranges Health, Gisborne Gazette offices and Bendigo Bank.

“Rotary volunteers have already assembled nearly 100 packs of donated items.”

Mr Watters said the club would like to receive donations of blankets and sleeping bags and food items to help expand the project.

The donated items will be presented to Cobaw Health at a Rotary dinner-meeting at Gisborne Golf Club on Tuesday, December 11.