A DIFFERENT type of Australian Red Cross vehicle has been turning heads around the city lately as volunteers travel across Mount Gambier with tool boxes in tow.
Helping out with odd jobs around the home such as changing light bulbs, fixing leaky taps, fixing and adjusting door hinges, re-stringing clothes lines and shifting pot plants, the Red Cross Home Support Program has already proven successful with many residents making use of it across the region.
Lorraine Juchtzer and her son Martin last week had a visit from the volunteers who helped with a number of small jobs in their home.
“I’m really appreciative the Red Cross volunteers are providing people with this type of service, as a pensioner it’s hard enough to make ends meet,” she said.
“My son helps me where he can, but he’s suffering with a very bad back and is in constant pain.
“The fact that volunteers like Peter and Greg are willing to give up their time to help others really is fantastic, I cannot thank them enough.”
Recently becoming a member of the Red Cross, Ms Juchtzer said she was grateful for the support volunteers give to so many people in the region.
“I went into the office in Helen Street to become a member recently because I know they do great work across the South East transporting people to medical appointments and out on day trips in their bus and I wanted to support them,” she said.
“I was speaking to a really nice lady at the counter and she said the home support program was there for members, so I booked them straight away.”
The newest of the local Red Cross branch’s services, the home support program receives no government funding and does not compete with professional services like plumbers, tilers or handyman services.
The jobs performed would otherwise not be undertaken due to the financial circumstances of the clients and the prohibitive cost of hiring a professional, which simply means the tasks are never addressed and the standard of living of the Australian Red Cross clients would continue to diminish.
Call the Australian Red Cross office on 8725 3622 for more information.
