Shayne Mallard secures $50,000 donation for the Red Shield Appeal

City of Sydney Councillor Shayne Mallard has convinced the Council to support his motion and donate $50,000 to the Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal. During today's Extraordinary Council meeting called to approve the Lord Mayor's proposed $100,000 for the Chinese Earthquake victims, Councillor Mallard alerted his colleagues of the pressing needs here in our own City.

"Each night as I walk through the City I see homeless people bedding down on park benches and in doorways huddling under thin blankets trying to ward off the winter cold. Shayne told the Council.

"I agree with the donation of $100,000 to China but we must not lose sight of the dire needs here at home as well.

"It's a disgrace that a city as wealthy as Sydney leaves vulnerable people such as the young, homeless and abused to live off the streets.

"No one should have to beg and no one should be living on the streets in this City and we need to be doing much more about it.

Councillor Mallard alerted the Council to the problems of donation fatigue and the donation vacuum that follows big appeals such as the Chinese earthquake and recent Tsunami appeals.

"The Salvo's reported raising $50,000 from the City of Sydney residents in the Red Shield Appeal yesterday. The City's donation now matches the generosity of our residents and businesses dollar for dollar.

"What better way to say thank you to the generous people including the many thousands of volunteers out there collecting for the Salvos.

"I am sure the people of Sydney support the work of the Salvation Army. The Salvos target for 2008 is to raise $68 million nationally. It is a big number and it just goes to show the extent of the work that the Salvation Army does to help the most disadvantaged in our community."

Councillor Mallard's successful Amendment reads:
(iv) that in recognition of the important work done by the Salvation Army in the City of Sydney and to support and add value to our residents, ratepayers and visitors the City of Sydney match dollar for dollar to a maximum of $50,000 for the Red Shield appeal.