The 2017 Vinnies CEO Sleepout Wollongong Appeal is being launched with the help of Acorn Lawyers at City Beach Function Centre on Friday night.
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The annual fundraiser is now in its sixth year and raises funds to help Illawarra’s homeless.
In 2016 there where 32 CEOs involved who raised $153,000.
Vinnies Wollongong Central Council president Gay Mason said on any given night there were around 1000 homeless people in the Illawarra and the funds raised last year were used to operate the Vinnies Van. “The van travels to five destinations in Wollongong, Warrawong and Nowra, providing meals, personal hygiene packs, toiletries, food packs, blankets and swags for up to 50 people on any one night“.
In 2015-16 the Van assisted 12,430 people, including 1,100 children, and served 13,620 meals.
Mr Mason said the van was one of many services run by Vinnies in the Illawarra to provide assistance to people experiencing disadvantage and marginalisation.
“Our launch dinner kicks off the campaign and provides a great start to raising these vital funds which enable Vinnies to continue doing the valuable work it does with people experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness,” he said.
Acorn Lawyers director Peter Williamson will be among those sleeping out on June 22 because he knows homelessness is a really important issue in the community.