THE St Vincent de Paul Society’s support centres in Brisbane are expecting to be inundated with more requests for help from vulnerable members of the community as the winter chill begins to bite.
Spare blankets and canned soup are on the wish list for donations at the society’s Buranda and Inala support centres.
Ellen Fogarty from the Buranda centre said last year it assisted 25 per cent more people than average and this year demand was expected to be higher still.
TInala centre co-ordinator Sue Lannen said demand for assistance in her area was also on the rise and without community support people could be turned away.
St Vincent de Paul said both centres were regularly called on to cover the cost of emergency shelter, to provide blankets as well as money for power bills and medical prescriptions.
The society is calling on Catholics throughout the archdiocese to support the winter appeal by calling 13 18 12 or visiting www.vinnies.org.au
