David Toscano says charity has been ‘abandoned’ in funding search
A group providing thousands of hot meals to those who can’t afford it will close its doors unless it finds a miracle donor. Now staff are pleading to the public for help after pollies “passed the buck”.
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A charity serving 16,000 two-course meals a year to those who can’t afford them say they’ve been “abandoned” by all levels of government.
And they’ve warned the popular lunches will come to an end if it doesn’t find more cash.
Northern Community CareWorks helps the unemployed through Work for the Dole, runs an op shop and hosts a number of community activities.
But Leader reported in June changes to the Work for the Dole model had left them $70,000 short of federal funding to run the programs.
After months of grant applications and fundraising efforts, CareWorks team leader David Toscano said they still needed about $30,000 to break even at the end of the year.
There are no guarantees for any money in 2020.
Mr Toscano said the “heartbreaking” ordeal was even more disappointing after a lack of responses from local, state and federal governments.
He said they contacted eight different members of parliament who he felt had “passed the buck”.
The organisation also applied to Darebin Council for funding through three separate streams.
“Being around for 14, 15 years this is the first time we’ve approached them (the council) for money to help us go,” Mr Toscano said.
“We feel as though we’ve been abandoned.”
Northcote state Labor MP Kat Theophanous said CareWorks was a “fantastic” organisation and she had worked with it from before she was elected to help continue its services.
“I have been working closely with various State Government ministers to try to access any funding programs that might be an option to help CareWorks,” she said.
“On top of that my office is helping CareWorks refine their business plan to put their best foot forward to attract other funding.”
Preston state Labor MP Robin Scott said he was working closely with Ms Theophanous.
The charity missed out on the council’s new three-year grant program, which had 30 applicants requesting $1.3 million each year — five times the allocated budget.
Mr Toscano also asked the council for short-term funding to continue the lunches program while long-term funding options were explored.
Darebin Mayor Susan Rennie said they would assist CareWorks in seeking funding from other levels of government and other sources.
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CareWorks will continue serving its lunches until the end of January while it tries to secure future funding.
After that, the program’s future is unclear.
Mr Toscano said the charity would rent out its space and try and build the profile of its op shop to help raise the money.
He encouraged anyone wanting to give back to the community to donate to the cause.
“If there’s someone that’s doing okay and wants to give back to the community, this is a great opportunity to reinvest back into those that are doing it a bit more tough,” he said.
To make a tax-deductible donation to CareWorks visit their website.
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