The Yard Assist program provides services to 14 Southern Cross Community Housing tenants in the Shoalhaven.

The tenants might need help due to injury, disability or age.

There are many more tenants who require help but to expand, Yard Assist needs more volunteers.

While volunteers are making a difference in the yards, their presence also offers social contact for people who are alone.

Volunteer superviser Elva Kielly enjoys being able to help people.

“One of the lovely things we have found is we can be a link for people who are isolated through disability or age,” she said.

“Because we are volunteers we can take that little bit more time for a chat and get to know the people.

“So many people tell us how much they love having us come to help around their yards and gardens.

“We don’t just do lawns, we also have volunteers who just want to work in people’s gardens,” she said.

Volunteers are asked to donate four hours a fortnight, must have their own vehicle and be able to use mower and whipper snipper.

Yard Assist can reimburse fuel costs for travel between jobs, provide safety equipment and training and has volunteer insurance coverage.

Yard Assist is run by Southern Cross Community Housing and is a project of the Shoalhaven Anti-Poverty Committee.

To volunteer phone Penni Wildi on 4421 5145 or email penni@scch.org.au.