Pancake Day News

s w e N y a D e e s k u a a c ood nc

PaFlipping fun for a g Pancake Day 2018

Next Year!

5 March 2019

UnitingCare SA Level 2, 212 Pirie St, Adelaide SA 5000 GPO Box 2145, Adelaide SA 5001 Phone: (08) 8236 4256 Email: pancakeday@ sa.uca.org.au

Website: sa.pancakeday .com.au

Freecall 1800 060 543

Winter Warmers UCare Gawler Thanks to a Pancake Day grant this year UCare Gawler has been able to provide hot soup to our community members during the colder weather.

The rough sleepers and homeless community members in Gawler have enthusiastically welcomed the homemade soup and it has also provided them with the opportunity to sit and share stories about family recipes.

The soup does not only provide essential nutrients to individuals who are often suffering poor physical and mental health. It also provides the volunteers with the opportunity to engage with the person and offer additional services including a hot shower, laundry and the chance to sit and have a chat with the volunteers.

Above: new volunteer Lachlan prepares soup from all of the ingredients provided by food relief agencies such as Foodbank, Second Bite, and Oz Harvest.

Your support is priceless UnitingSA Pancake Day gives families a reason to smile More families are able to put food on the table and send their children to school with a smile, thanks to funds raised through the annual UnitingCare SA Pancake Day. UnitingSA has used the funds to provide extra Emergency Relief to families facing financial hardship in the western suburbs.

UnitingSA Anti-Poverty Team Leader Cindy Adey says Pancake Day funds have allowed the organisation to buy back-to-school packs for families who otherwise would not be able to afford the educational necessities.

The packs contain a bag, lunchbox, drink bottle and stationery to ensure children have everything they need to go to school.

“Being able to provide more back to school packs is crucial because every child deserves to have an equal opportunity,” Cindy said. “We are so grateful for the funds and for everyone who supported Pancake Day this year. It is such a great cause and every dollar counts.”

Members of the team at UnitingSA: Cindy,

Connected Families worker Tashara Hague says the experience of one Tashara and Daya show just a few of the of the recipients highlights the value of school packs for children in items that were purchased with funds need. from Pancake Day. “A ten-year-old girl I work with received a lunch box in her school pack,” she said. “Her granddad reported back to me that she can’t wait to get up in the morning and make her own lunch now, and then she cleans it first thing when she gets home from school. Something so little can make such a big difference.”

UnitingSA has also put the funds towards helping people on bridging visas, who often miss out on vital support because their visa status prevents them from obtaining government-funded assistance. The funds raised allowed the organisation to buy supermarket vouchers to support them.

“Because of Pancake Day, we were able to help these people buy food and other necessary items to ensure they can support their families,” Cindy said.

“It is such a relief to be able to assist people who would otherwise miss out.”

During the March 13 Pancake Day festivities, UnitingSA staff and volunteers cooked and served pancakes to passersby outside their offices in Dale St, Port Adelaide.

Channel 10 personality and Pancake Day ambassador Rebecca Morse dropped in to show off her pancake flipping skills (shown at right), and weather presenter Kate Freebairn conducted a live weather broadcast.

UnitingCare SA Pancake Day mascot Penny Pancake also made a special guest appearance, delighting children and the local community who stopped by for a sweet treat.

Thank you to everyone who helps support Pancake Day!

UnitingCare Mount Gambier A warm night’s sleep UnitingCare Mount Gambier has struggled to meet the growing demand for emergency services in the region. Housing is particularly hard to find at reasonable rates. Due to this, UnitingCare Mount Gambier applied to utilise Pancake Day funds to buy swags and blankets to hand out to help people cope with the cold winter.

Tom* arrived for an appointment looking completely lost - he had been struggling: couldn’t find work, sleeping rough, feeling very cold. He had been walking between towns, looking for work.

When asked if he would like a backpack swag, his face it up! The swags are waterproof and are able to be carried on the back with extra room for clothes and essentials.

Tom received a few essential items of food and some fruit and he left a little brighter.

One of the many backpack swags purchased with Pancake Day funds “We don’t know anything more about Tom’s story,” said Barbara Watson, UnitingCare Mount Gambier board member. “Nearly all of our clients carry is modelled by a UnitingCare Mount Gambier volunteer. their burdens very close to their chest.”

UnitingCare Mount Gambier also offers showers, four days a week. Some clients who live in their cars who use this service to help them get back on their feet. Geoff* was one of these clients who had been receiving help for over 12 months.

One day he came in and announced with a beaming face: “I have a job, and I want to thank you for all that you have done for me over the time. This will be my last shower, I now also have somewhere to live!”

Thank you to Pancake Day for providing winter warmth to people doing it tough.

Uniting in Care Salisbury Emergency Relief Jasmine and Darius* had been coming in for food assistance for their young family for over 12 months. Jasmine spoke a little English but could understand more. When the new drop-in centre was finished, Jasmine and her younger son often stayed for coffee. It wasn’t long after that she was helping the staff with interpretation for other families from Syria and Iran.

Jasmine and Darius are now both regular volunteers and members at the church. Last month, they become Australian citizens.

They are thankful for the hospitality and love shown to them through the services of Uniting in Care Salisbury. They tell everyone that they would not have come this far without that love and support.

Pancake Day is a part of changing lives in the Salisbury community!

Produce shelves were bought with funds from Pancake Day a few years ago. This year, Pancake Day will continue to assist people in need with Essentials vouchers. *Names have been changed

UnitingCare Copper Triangle A bed to come home to The assistance that UnitingCare Copper Triangle offers to help re-establish people into homes with furniture and household goods is ever in demand. The volunteers are now travelling as far as Jamestown assisting to re-establish people with household effects.

“We are fortunate to receive many items of furniture and household goods as donations, which are stored in our storage shed until we are called upon to assist an individual or family who are in need,” said Paul Thomas, Board Chair. “However, mattresses and bedding are always the most needed items as well as the least available.”

In many cases, while donated beds are in good condition, it is the mattresses and associated bedding that UCCT are most careful about accepting and volunteers often need to dispose of the mattress, opting for a new one. A Pancake Day grant has made a stack of new mattresses possible.

Your support is helping people in need get a good night’s sleep!

Furniture/household goods coordinator Necia Ebert is thrilled about the mattresses purchased with funds from Pancake Day.

Thank you to our

Major Sponsor 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 Glenelg UnitingCare Kapunda UnitingCare Mount Gambier UnitingCare Wesley Bowden (UCWB) Uniting Country SA UnitingSA

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 5 March 2019 Hold your event anytime during February or March

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

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Pancake Day

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(You will be contacted nearer the event for your details)

Our event is private, please do not list it anywhere.

We want Penny to visit our event, if possible! (or we want to borrow the Penny costume)

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