After more than 55 years of knocking on doors each May, The Salvation Army is taking the Red Shield Appeal online in response to COVID-19’s heavy impact on social interaction.
Australians are facing an economic and social crisis unlike anything we’ve seen in recent history, and The Salvation Army are preparing to combat this with an unprecedented level of hardship support through their Red Shield Appeal Digital Doorknock.
The appeal aims to raise $35 million by the end of June, with the money going towards vital support services that help tackle Homelessness, Family & Domestic Violence, Emergency Relief, Addiction and Emergency Services.
They are looking for donations as well as volunteers to become "Digital Doorknockers" to help with fundraising efforts. To get started, just create a profile here, outlining why you want to raise funds and how the Salvos are important to you. Set a goal and share your fundraiser via your network over social media.
“We anticipate seeing some of the greatest need that we have ever seen in our 140-year history serving Australians, particularly when government funding ceases in the coming months," Salvo's WA Spokesperson, Warren Palmer, said.
"The COVID-19 crisis has financially crippled many Australians and it will take months to see the real impact it will have."
The appeal has the support of 75 Aussie celebrities, including Hamish Blake, Sonia Kruger, Layne Beachley and Justin Langer, who have recorded personal video messages detailing their support as well as reaching out to others to get involved.
Annually, The Salvation Army provides more than 1 million sessions of care to Australians in need; helps 46,000 people experiencing homelessness, provides financial counselling to more than 65,000 and offers care to 13,000 people who are impacted by family violence.
They also provided more than 500,000 meals and refreshments to those devastated by the recent Australian bushfires and remain on the ground as these affected communities recover and rebuild.
You can donate at salvationarmy.org.au or call 13 SALVOS (13 72 58), and to become a digital Doorknocker yourself, go to Digitaldoorknock.salvationarmy.org.au and follow the instructions to sign up.