The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs joined NSW Premier Chris Minns today to launch a new Vinnies Van to address the growing need for food assistance and community connection across the state.
The latest Vinnies Van, a purpose-built Isuzu Tradepack truck proudly funded by the NSW Government, will allow the St Vincent de Paul Society NSW to service inner-Sydney each night by providing food and support to a growing number of people.
Vinnies Vans supported over 102,000 people in the past financial year with over 95,000 meals provided, along with 85,000 snack and toiletries packs. The Society NSW operates 13 Vinnies Vans throughout NSW, servicing Greater Sydney, Wollongong, Newcastle, Coffs Harbour, Lismore and Orange.
“We’ve seen a dramatic increase in the number of people seeking assistance from our van services, including people in secure employment who are reaching out due to cost-of-living pressures,” said Yolanda Saiz, St Vincent de Paul Society NSW CEO.
“Four in five people seeking assistance from our members over the past year have requested assistance with food and this has meant we’ve needed to expand our services to meet the need that exists in the community,” said Ms Saiz.
“We’re grateful for the support of the NSW Government in funding a new Vinnies Van which will allow us to reach more people and provide much-needed certainty in their time of hardship,” said Peter Houweling, St Vincent de Paul Society NSW State President.
In addition to Vinnies Vans services operated across NSW, the Society supported close to 100,000 people facing hardship through its network of members over the last year.
Recent research conducted by The McKell Institute examining the effectiveness of the Society’s relief programs found that 89% of people reported that the assistance positively impacted their stress levels and improved their wellbeing.
NSW Premier Chris Minns officially launched the new Vinnies Van on R U OK? Day with a lunchtime barbeque alongside the Bulldogs for people experiencing disadvantage in the inner city of Sydney.
“The St Vincent de Paul Society NSW has a well-established presence in communities all across the state and provides important relief to people through its members and services every day,” said Chris Minns, NSW Premier - an avid Bulldogs supporter.
“I’ve seen first-hand the impact Vinnies NSW has been able to make for people in crisis and with early intervention support.
“Vinnies Vans provide people with more than just a meal by acting as a space for social connection and referrals to other support services.
“The NSW Government is proud to support the work of the St Vincent de Paul Society NSW as part of our commitment to address hardship and loneliness,” said Mr Minns.
Joining Minns at the event alongside Bulldogs greats Terry Lamb and Josh Reynolds, Bulldogs CEO Aaron Warburton said community initiatives like this were what the Bulldogs are all about: "We are a grassroots football club," he said.
"When we're able to team up with the likes of Vinnies and our other community partners, that's when we can make a real difference."
While the Bulldogs will take on their first finals game in eight years this weekend, the CEO said whilst the Club is working extremely hard behind the scenes to chase a win on Sunday, real success can be measured by the way the club continues to make a positive difference in the community regardless of the outcome.
"We are proud of our community roots. We are an extension of our community and the more we can do on the ground and in grassroots the better," he said.
The Bulldogs and their corporate partners in Suttons Motors Group worked with the St Vincent de Paul Society NSW to assist in the acquisition of the Vinnies van and were proud to assist in its' launch today.
Locally, St Vincent de Paul Society NSW members supported more than 3,600 people in the Kingsgrove/Bankstown region during the last year and the Bulldogs would like to commend the invaluable work that they do for the surrounding community and those experiencing hardship.
