Volunteers shake tins to help seniors

Naturaliste Red Cross is combating elderly loneliness by celebrating another year of shaking the tins for last month’s national March Appeal, raising $2500 for causes.

Red Cross South West regional representative Gill Williams said all volunteer units were passionate about fundraising and socialising to provide a helping hand for those in the community who were less fortunate or had lost loved ones.

“We run a number of fundraisers but the biggest of which is our March Appeal and this year we were shaking our tins for donation at the Dunsborough Centrepoint shopping centre,” she said.

“Next year we will have EFTPOS machines because we found this year that many people didn’t have cash.”

Red Cross volunteer Robin Rielly said volunteers socialises with a purpose with a large membership of 67 which allowed those in the older generations to feel active and involved. “The community is always generous because they know we are there to provide a smile and a give back,” she said.

The money raised will go towards drug and alcohol rehabilitation, breakfast programs, cyber bullying seminars and technological skill development for seniors.

“The baby boomers all came down here for a good retirement but we wanted to be involved in the community so we do what we can to support each other,” Mrs Rielly said.