Despite a slow start due to COVID-19 restrictions Wollongong's 26 Vinnies CEO Sleepout participants have achieved their target of raising $50,000 to help Illawarra's homeless.
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Flagstaff Group chief executive Roy Rogers collected close to $3000 in donations by sleeping out in a stable near his horse Fonzie and poodle Piper and remembers waking up feeling very cold.
"It got down to 2.5 degrees with a light frost but I kept warm under the horse blankets. It was very draining and I was a bit late getting to work on Friday morning".
Mr Rogers said the experience gave him even more appreciation of how difficult it must be for the homeless who sleep out in the cold every night.
"I was comfortable and made myself a decent bed with wood chips and shavings but it was still cold. And when you get up, have a shower and get ready for work you still really feel buggered".
It was the ninth year Mr Rogers has taken part in the CEO Sleepout and has personally raised close to $40,000 which represents many meals and beds and services for the homeless. He was one of the people who encouraged St Vincent de Paul to allow Wollongong to host a CEO Sleepout with all money raised staying in the region to help locals.
"I helped bring it to Wollongong with Nieves Murray. It was a bit of a battle to get it out of the capital cities and it has gone really well ever since. All the money goes into local homelessness which is just as bad in the Illawarra and the Shoalhaven as anywhere else.
"We said if we bring it to Wollongong we want to make sure it gets spent in the region. The first two years the money went to the Vinnies van. I volunteer on the Vinnies van which gives out meals in Wollongong and Nowra and operates rain hail or shine. Now the money goes to that and brokerage and putting people into housing and trying to stabilise people and families who are in stress which is really important".
This year Mr Rogers efforts raised enough money to help Vinnies provide eight individual support programs, 23 beds and 92 meals. Another Flagstaff executive Rodney Clark also did the sleepout and raised a similar amount.
Mr Rogers said assistance was just as important as ever with the coronavirus putting more people out of work. He has family staying at the moment after a job loss due to COVID-19 and knows how circumstances can change in an instant. But not everyone is fortunate enough to have family who can help and that is why Vinnies' work is so important.
Mr Rogers said Flagstaff Group is also presently running its Winter Warmers drive for a third year.
"We get all our staff and employees to donate blankets, beanies and scarfs to help the homeless. Last year we donated over 500 to Vinnies which were used in the local area and Campbelltown".
Mr Rogers said he was always amazed how generous Flagstaff employees.
Members of the community can also drop in a scarf, blanket or beanie.
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Greg Ellis
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
