With just two weeks to go St Vincent de Paul events and promotions co-ordinator Lee Hughes said members of the community should grab a ticket before time runs out.

“It’s a full-on, loud, fun night that raises money for local homelessness services,” she said.

“We have the ever popular raffles, silent auctions, lucky door prizes and much more.”

Ms Hughes said local businesses had been extremely generous in donating prizes and their time for the Winter Appeal.

“Steve Wisbey from Macarthur has given his time to travel down and be MC for the evening and Bomaderry Bowling Club among others have been very generous,” she said.

“I’ve also had extensive help from our dedicated volunteers on the committee to put this event together for another year.

“We have also been working on a video presentation on the homelessness services in the area to show how Vinnies helps the local community.”

Ms Hughes said just one of the great initiatives included a van that visits the area twice a week distributing food to homeless people.

“Some of our other services help families by giving them financial advice, counselling, through education programs, transition services for those establishing a life after jail and so on,” she said.

“We aim to help take the stress off people’s and families’ lives during tough times.

“Anyone’s life can change in an instant. Let’s just say you have an accident at work, you lose your job, you can’t meet your mortgage repayments, life spirals and you don’t know who to turn to for help and you wind up on the streets. Our purpose is to get people to realise we are here to help before situations become dire and to help when it’s needed.

“Our motto here is to give people a hand up, not a hand out.”

In the past financial year the society helped nearly 6000 people in the Shoalhaven with basic support from food, clothing, furniture, payment of utility bills, rental assistance and medical expenses.

Money raised also aids crisis accommodation in Nowra for homeless men, medium-term accommodation in West Nowra for single adult men with significant mental health issues, holiday flats in Gerroa and Mollymook for disadvantaged families and individuals and budget counselling in Nowra and Ulladulla as well as the Vinnies food van in Nowra.

The third St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal Gala Ball will be held on Friday, May 1 from 7pm at Bomaderry Bowling club. 

Dress code is smart, no denim. Tickets are $60 per person. RSVP to Lee Hughes on 4620 8226 or 0458 297 667 or email lee.hughes@

vinnies.org.au by Friday, April 24.