Jul 30

Sunshine Coast Business Council is calling on local businesses to put their hands in their pockets to support the Vinnies Corporate and Community Sleepout Sunshine Coast 2018 on Thursday, 23 August.

A group of local dignitaries, business people and community members are gearing up to sleep rough in the name of charity, to help raise awareness and funds for the more than 900 homeless men, women and children on the Sunshine Coast.

Sunshine Coast Business Council Chair Sandy Zubrinich said with less than four weeks until sleeping rough for the night, she and the other members and councillors participating, urgently need the support of the local business community.

“We understand that there are many excellent social causes that businesses and individuals support on the Sunshine Coast but we hope people will share our belief in providing the basic human need of shelter to our local homeless community,” Ms Zubrinich said.

“The Business Council is calling on businesses of all sizes across our local industries to support our goal of raising $50,000 towards Vinnies Sunshine Coast’s regional target of $150,000 for the night, as we are currently well below this figure.”

“Meeting our target means we can support the renovation of the nine new units that have been purchased to provide over 9,000 additional bed nights per year to those experiencing homelessness on the Coast. Of the 900 sleeping rough each night, 34% are female and 16% are children so this really impacts all facets of our community.”

Already, ten Sunshine Coast Business Council members have signed up to sleep out and Ms Zubrinich said they would be grateful for more of a presence from local businesses.

“Well known locals such as Ben Simpson and Adrian Allen from Stockland, Tony Vickers from Midson Construction, Simon Latchford from Visit Sunshine Coast, Peter Pallot from the Sunshine Coast Airport and our MC for the night Bill Darby, have all made the commitment to roll out their sleeping bags on the beach for the night but we’re hoping to exceed the over 30 sleepers we had there last year,” Ms Zubrinich said

“If businesses can’t join the sleepers who have already signed up for the Sleepout and experience for themselves what life is like on the street, they can donate to one of the sleepers who have already signed up – any size donation will help towards achieving our goal.”

The Vinnies Corporate and Community Sleepout Sunshine Coast 2018 will take place on Thursday, 23 August outside the Maroochydore Surf Club. Participants will be provided with a piece of cardboard to sleep on or build a shelter with, and a basic meal of soup, bread, tea and coffee.

To donate to the cause, register to participate or find out more, please visit www.communitysleepout.org.au.

Note: There are over 2,800 people considered homeless in Vinnies Queensland’s Northern Diocese which includes Gympie, the Fraser Coast and parts of the Moreton bBay region as well as the Sunshine Coast and Noosa.

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