Seniors donate to help the homeless

Val Styles, Alison Gommers, Jenny Bartlett and John Butler. 195058 Picture: ALI DARRINGTON

By Jed Lanyon

Healesville’s probus and senior citizens clubs made a donation of $255 to Healesville Inter-church Community Care Inc (HICCI) on Tuesday 25 June.

Speaking at a presentation, president of the Healesville Ladies Probus Club Val Styles said, “On behalf of the two ladies probus clubs and the senior citizens, we’d like to present HICCI with this cheque.

“And I’m sure HICCI will be able to put it to great use.”

HICCI executive office Alison Gommers was thankful for the generous donation.

HICCI aims to provide practical care and support to the community of Healesville and Yarra Glen in times of crisis, emergency or personal need.

“In the last month we’ve had so many more people come in,” Ms Gommers said.

“We’ve had a couple hundred more requests for food and there are a lot more homeless people who are coming our way because of the cold weather.

“So we’re trying to do our best to help them and keep them as comfortable as possible.”

Secretary of the Healesville Senior Citizens Club Ken Fewster explained that the money came as a result of a recent concert hosted at the club and from fundraisers from the two probus clubs.

“It was $255 left over, and probus groups aren’t allowed to make profits so we decided to give it to HICCI, who do so much for the community.”

The donation was made by the Healesville Senior Citizens Club, Healesville Ladies Probus Club and the Valley Ladies Probus Club.