The 2019 Red Shield Appeal Tweed Launch will be staged on Tuesday, 14 May at Tweed Heads Bowls Club (7am to 8.30am).

Chair of the The Red Shield Appeal Tweed Mr John Murray and President of the Tweed Chamber of Commerce Mr Warren Polglase welcomes 100 guests to the business fundraising breakfast that will kick off The Salvation Army’s Annual Appeal, which also includes the  Tweed’s largest door knock, with 200 residential streets being door knocked and collections points activated in Tweed shopping precincts on the weekend of May 25 & 26,  and for the first time,  workplaces being desk knocked involving over 750 employees  during the months of May and June.

Guest speakers include Jack Drendel who has journeyed with The Salvation Army in his recovery after flooding from Cyclone Debbie and Mr Simon Gregory State Public Relations Secretary for The Salvation Army. Mr David Murray will be performing.

MEDIA RELEASE

14 May 2019
Opportunity Knocks – The Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal

With the Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal being launched this week, local support for the initiative is needed now more than ever so The Salvos can continue to provide hope where it is needed most. The Salvation Army have supported the Tweed communities for 125 years.

Over the past 12 months, The Salvation Army have supported more than 38,000 people experiencing homelessness, 14,000 people overcoming addiction, provided over 50,000 financial counselling sessions, given care to 5,000 people experiencing family violence, and assisted more than 150,000 people with emergency relief*.

To ensure they can continue providing this vital support, The Salvation Army is encouraging businesses to get involved in a new initiative for The Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal by registering to ‘desk knock’ their workplace.

Major Darren Elsley, a local Salvation Army Officer emphasises the importance of the ‘desk knock’ in making a difference in alleviating the hardship being faced by many people, right across our nation. “The Salvation Army can only continue to meet the local community’s needs with help from volunteers and community fundraising initiatives like the desk knock,” Major Elsley said.

For the 2019 Appeal, the Tweed community has already contributed $6000 with donations from the Tweed Heads Bowls Club, Twin Town Services Club, Summerland Credit Union, Tropical Fruit World, Solo Resource Recovery and Queensland Airports Ltd. 100 guests at the Red Shield Appeal Business Breakfast launch on May 14 has a target of $10,000.

Tweed Heads Shire Council, Harvey Norman and JB Hifi Tweed Heads have registered for the “Desk Knock”, 200 residential streets are being door knocked and collection points in shopping districts are being activated throughout the Tweed.

The Red Shield Appeal has set a target of raising $79 million, with money raised from the Appeal going towards The Salvation Army’s vast network of services that help Australians in need.

“We cannot do this alone,” said Major Elsley. “We all have the opportunity to be beacons of hope for others, and by partnering with The Salvation Army by passing the collection bucket around your workplace during the month of May, you can give hope where it’s needed most.”

Register online for your fundraising kit for the Red Shield Appeal’s inaugural Northern Rivers workplace desk knock at salvationarmy.org.au/deskknock. Alternatively, donate when a volunteer door knocks your home or at a collection point at the shops, or donate direct on 13 72 58, at salvationarmy.org.au, in person at Westpac branches or Salvos Family and Salvos Stores.

ENDS

For more information or media comment, contact: Mr Rowan Johnstone, 0407 142 014
Relationship Manager, Community Fundraising, Gold Coast Qld & Northern NSW