DoSomething Day: lots of ways to help the needy through Salvation Army

HELPING the poorest in south west Sydney’s community is as simple as donating a can of food, gold coins or a few hours of time.

Bankstown Salvation Army officers and Bankstown Sports Club staff show their support for DoSomethingDay. Picture: Melvyn Knipe

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HELPING the poorest in south west Sydney’s community is as simple as donating a can of food, a few bucks or your time.

This is the message from Bankstown Salvation Army corps officer Lieutenant Frank Wang on a day dedicated to lending a hand to others.

“I think there is a huge need in the Bankstown general community, so many people are struggling even with the very basic needs for their family or for themselves like food, like blankets, like clothing,” he said.

“In today’s Australia you can’t believe so many people are struggling with these basic needs.”

“Helping those most in need isn’t that hard.”

Bankstown Salvation Army and Bankstown Sports Club staff collect food to help those in need on DoSomethingDay. Picture: Melvyn Knipe

Speaking at a Bankstown Sports Club movie marathon fundraiser for three charities, including the Salvos, the Dandelion Network, which provides baby items for families in need, and Step Ahead, which raises money for headspace and the YMCA, this afternoon Mr Wang said it didn’t take much to help those most in need.

He said people can donate money through the Salvation Army’s annual Red Shield appeal or to Bankstown Salvation Army Corp.

“Secondly they can donate food or non-perishables to us … and also they can donate they can donate their second hand goods to the store at Yagoona.”

Behind the scenes, staff at Bankstown Sports Club have also been doing their bit for the Salvos.

The crew gathered hundreds of food items to bolster Mr Wang’s stocks.

Mark Ferguson holding a #dosomethingday sign at the Bankstown Sports Club. Picture: Richard Dobson

Bankstown Sports Club chief executive Mark Condi said: “We often take things for granted and forget that others may not be as fortunate. This is a good reminder to be appreciative of what we have and to give back to the community whenever we can”.

DoSomething Day is Australia’s biggest ever celebration of random acts of kindness and volunteering.

For ideas what to do, click on our Kindomiser on the DoSomething Day page, dosomethingday.com.au, and generate a random act of kindness and commit to it and share it with us using the hashtags #dosomethingday and #giveyourbest!

Launched by NewsLocal newspapers, the DoSomething charity and Your Local Club and supported by the Pratt Foundation, the day is all about encouraging everyone to do something positive in their communities.