Pancake Day News 2015 issue 2

s w e N y a D e k a e s c u a c n d o o g a Pa r o f n u f g n i p p Fli

Issue 2, 2015

Thank you to our

Major Sponsors (Above) UCWPA’s Cindy Adey (Emergency Relief Coordinator) and Robin King (Finance Coordinator) in the newly restocked food pantry!

What’s cookin’ after Pancake Day? Media Partner

Diary Date

9th February 2016 Pancake Day is early next year!

UnitingCare SA Level 2, 212 Pirie St, Adelaide SA 5000 GPO Box 2145, Adelaide SA 5001 Email: pancakeday@sa.uca.org.au Website: sa.pancakeday.com.au

Freecall 1800 060 543

UnitingCare Wesley Port Adelaide (UCWPA) provide over 10,400 occasions of emergency relief every year and sadly the demand for this type of assistance is increasing. Many of the people who need help go without food, shelter, clothing and transport and require a diverse range of support relating to health, education, counselling and financial assistance.

“Sometimes it’s really hard to keep up, especially during winter when food, blankets and financial help is a real necessity for people who are living in poverty.” said Cindy Adey, Emergency Relief Coordinator.

Early in 2015 the government announced a $10 million cut to emergency relief services and like many other non-profit organisations, UCWPA felt the pinch. With funding cuts of almost 50%, UCWPA has had to reduce emergency relief operating hours which has imposed the difficult task of turning away some people seeking immediate help.

“It’s a sad reality facing many organisations like ours but we are committed to making sure that we source enough funding from other sources to help us meet the everincreasing demand for assistance, now and into the future.” said Cindy.

This year, Pancake Day funds have enabled UCWPA to re-stock their emergency food room with enough non-perishable items to last for two weeks, helping about 120 people.

working together to educate, support and care for people in South Australia

UnitingCare Glenelg “Exciting developments continue to unfold at UnitingCare Glenelg.

Informed by Asset Based Community Development – an approach that is based on focusing on people’s gifts rather than problems, needs and deficiencies and asking questions such as: “What gifts do you have?” and “How can we engage those gifts to help create an abundance of life and well-being within the community?”. Asset Based Community Development also aims to strive towards working in partnership with the community to move from relief to rehabilitation to development.

Financial support received through Pancake Day is now assisting UnitingCare Glenelg to offer a Community Foodies Program in partnership with UnitingCare Wesley Bowden whereby participants from our various outreach communities will learn how to cook healthy and nutritious meals on a low budget and also develop deeper friendships.

Two friends enjoy a hearty meal at UnitingCare Glenelg.

We are very grateful for the generosity of Pancake Day funds which will bring about positive change through newly acquired life skills and enable both lives and communities to flourish.”

— Rev Adam Tretheway, Minister

UnitingCare Copper Triangle “Pancake Day funds from local events each year support the services UnitingCare Copper Triangle provides for struggling families. One of those services is a Microcredit scheme, offering no-interest loans to help low-income families smooth out the financial ‘bumps.’

The UnitingCare SA Pancake Day grant received this year went into the Microcredit fund and has allowed 3 families to benefit from $800 each interest-free loans. There are varied needs for these families. Imagine a mum and her children having to relocate to a new town and a new school for the children. How can she pay for the uniforms on top of all the other relocation expenses? Or imagine that your refridgerator breaks down. What would you do if you couldn’t afford a new one? A no-interest loan can be a lifesaver!”

—Moss Potter, Board Chairperson and Coordinator

UnitingCare Mt Gambier “UnitingCare Mount Gambier was fortunate and grateful to obtain a Pancake Day grant this year. The need to provide substantially more data associated with the current Federal Government Emergency Relief funding has resulted in significant extra online work for the group. The Pancake Day grant has enabled us to purchase a laptop for the Federal Data Exchange process which has made this task possible, thus ensuring we fufil our obligations to the Government. The financial support received for this project has been greatly appreciated..”

— Rose Schultz, Board Chairperson, pictured left.

UCare Gawler “UCare Gawler have opened a new branch at Eudunda. Services at the new location include financial counselling, coffee and chat group, no-interest loans and emergency relief. In addition, like many other organisations, UCare has had increased data reporting requirements to the Federal Government. Since its opening in May 2015, the Eudunda office has been reliant on the equipment from the Gawler office.

Jenny Flory, Financial Counsellor at Eudunda

A Pancake Day grant helped us to buy a computer for the Eudunda office so that it can be self-sufficient. So far we have been having many more clients at this service than expected. We may have to extend our hours to keep up with the demand.”

— Raelene Benier, Administrator

Resthaven

Eileen Logan with Margaret Kleeman, Lifestyle Assistant at Resthaven Malvern

“Resthaven was pleased to receive a grant from the UnitingCare Pancake Day funds. This has gone towards the purchase of equipment for a new lifestyle activity, called “Music Connections”.

This program is being introduced across all 11 Resthaven residential aged care sites.

The activity aim of “Music Connections” is to connect with people who have advanced dementia through music, using personalised playlists to stimulate memories and emotions.Through listening to past favourite music a variety of responses have been observed in residents such as smiling, tapping their feet along to the music, sitting more upright. Some speak after listening when they are usually uncommunicative and there is often a reduction in their agitation and anxiety levels. There is also heightened engagement with staff and family members. It is remarkable how responsive some residents with advanced dementia can be to music. Music touches deeply held memories. “ — Jenny Whitting, Senior Manager, Residential Services

Join us in 2016 and continue to help us support the work of UnitingCare!

UnitingCare Eleanora

“We provided 7,000 bed nights of accomodation and over 20,000 individual meals in the last financial year.

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This year, thanks to Pancake Day, UnitingCare Eleanora was able to restock our supply of manchester and also buy a few new mattresses and some needed items for the kitchen. We are very grateful to the supporters of Pancake Day.”

Pancake Day Morse, Ambassado r, TEN Rebecca

When a resident arrives at UC Eleanora, they are provided with fresh manchester which is then theirs to keep when they move out of our transitional housing into more permanent housing.

— Andy Morrison, Manager

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Uniting in Care, Salisbury “Ralph* was in need of food assistance. He came to our office very depressed. He was given our address by a friend. He came in and was so pleased that we were able to help him. Ralph began attending our free lunch on Wednesday’s called Wednesday F’lunch, and before long he was a regular part of the community.

Without Pancake Day and its grants we would not be able to purchase essential equipment to help our volunteers and our Emergency Relief Programme. This year funds from Pancake Day allowed us to purchase a security system and a vegetable display shelf. These items assist us greatly in our mission to serve the community.” * (name changed) —Aurora Gale, Administrator A volunteer at Uniting in Care, Salisbury with the new security system.

Pancake Day SA Media Partner

@ucpancakeday

sa.pancakeday.com.au

2016

UnitingCare Wesley Bowden UnitingCare Wesley Bowden’s (UCWB) programs and its services are making a huge difference to one family in need, in particular.

Donna, describes her family as “unique” as three of its five members need full-time care. A mother and a wife, who is a resilient, hard-working, warm and caring person says “life throws things at you that you are not prepared for”.

With the help of her daughter Natalina, Donna cares for 19-year-old son, Bruno, who has severe autism, anxiety, a mild intellectual disability and asthma, and Donna describes her 17-year-old daughter, Natalina, a full-time her 15-year-old daughter, Concetta, who also suffers carer when she is at home as her “rock and amazing.” from severe autism, an intellectual disability, a sensory disorder and does not have language. Donna’s husband, Joe, requires Donna to care for him full-time due to mental health issues. Caring for her family and the recent crisis have been stressful for Natalina, says Donna, and she now suffers from anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder.

The Young Carers Program through UCWB My Life – Disability Services supports young carers to manage the pressures and responsibilities of their caring role through a range of practical and emotional assistance while supporting them to also remain engaged in school. Through this program Natalina is being helped to increase her involvement with the community, including school, through respite care.

So if she needs to do her homework, go to the library or go shopping, respite from her caring role is provided. Natalina says, “Most services want to help the most severe person, but UCWB was the first organisation that has helped the whole family.” — Sue Beattie, External Communications and Marketing Coordinator

Contact Us

UnitingCare Organisations You Can Help Support Clayton Church Homes Eldercare Helping Hand Aged Care Resthaven St Andrew’s Hospital UCare Gawler Uniting Communities Uniting in Care, Salisbury

UnitingCare Copper Triangle UnitingCare Eleanora UnitingCare Glenelg UnitingCare Kapunda UnitingCare Mount Gambier UnitingCare Wesley Bowden UnitingCare Wesley Country SA UnitingCare Wesley Port Adelaide

Ph: (08) 8236 4233 or 1800 060 543 Level 2 212 Pirie Street Adelaide SA 5000 GPO Box 2145, Adelaide SA 5001 pancakeday@sa.uca.org.au sa.pancakeday.com.au

Register for UnitingCare Pancake Day 9th February 2016 Hold your event anytime during February or March

It’s easy! Call, go online or post this form to Pancake Day at the contact details above.

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