Hike for Homeless: BASE Services’ ambitious plan ease homelessness

The people behind one of Toowoomba’s most essential social support services have set a mammoth fundraising goal to assist Toowoomba’s rapidly growing homeless population. Here’s how you can lace up your boots and help.

20km Hike for Homeless participants start in Jubilee Park last year. Picture: Kevin Farmer

 

Hikers across Toowoomba will this weekend lace up their shoes to raise both awareness and cash to help the region’s growing homeless population.

The eighth annual Hike for Homeless raises money to keep the Base Soup Kitchen and running and assist people struggling to keep a roof above their heads.

BASE Services, which runs the popular event, has set the ambitious goal to raise $1 million over the next three years through both the run and its other flagship event, Homeless for a week.

The organisation has set a fundraising goal of $100,000 for Saturday’s run.

BASE intends to use the cash to build or redevelop an existing space to build a purpose-designed facility that will meet the growing demand for its services.

Co-ordinator Nat Spary said the low rental vacancy rate was compounding the issue of homelessness across the region, with many experiencing the issue for the first time.

“While many others are struggling to keep a roof over their head or put food on the table, as a result of the increasing cost-of-living expenses including food and rent,” Mr Spary said in a statement.

“The only reason the Basement Soup Kitchen continues to operate is because of the generous support of the Toowoomba community, as the Basement receives no government funding.”

“Our community’s support today helps ensure we can keep operating tomorrow.”

More than 8000 runners have raised more than $330,000 over the past eight years for the Basement Soup Kitchen.

The starting gun will fire at Jubilee Park for the first hike at 5.45am, the 20km.

It will be followed by staggered starts for the 10km and 5km hike.

Hikers can register as an individual, as a family or as a team.

For more information on how to enter, and entry costs, head to https://www.mycause.com.au/events/hikeforhomeless

The content summaries were created with the assistance of AI technology, then edited and approved for publication by an editor.

Originally published as Hike for Homeless: BASE Services’ ambitious plan ease homelessness