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I’m proud to say our community has shown they are unarguably completely and loudly supportive of Mary’s House. What a win for the Volunteers Team! We have received about 60 completed volunteer’s application forms.

Already we have training programs in place with Lifeline and very shortly there will be signup rostering available so that volunteers can nominate on-line the date and time they wish to volunteer for a particular task.

We strongly believe that the success of Mary’s House will be largely dependent on the strength of our volunteer workforce. Based on support we’ve received, we have every reason to believe our strategy will deliver precisely what it needs to; to ensure the safety and well-being of every resident of Mary’s House no matter their circumstance.

We have articulated various volunteer roles and have been astounded by the response from all walks of life including professionals, retirees, full time workers who somehow will make time, school students and many who have in some shape or form been exposed to domestic violence themselves and wish to lend hope and inspiration to those currently dealing with the complicated reality.

We very much look forward to delivering our next update which will give you an idea of how the first weeks unfolded.

Janice Gibson
Volunteer Coordinator

Significant developments with North Sydney council this week and the much needed renovation is expected to commence in March. What a breakthrough!!!!

February, 2016

FUNDRAISING

We have successfully secured the funds required for the renovation and on this happy note, another thanks goes to all of you who have contributed so far. The operating costs however, to the tune of approximately $200,000 for the first year, remain outstanding. Our plans to help us unearth this amount include continuing to apply for community grants and local funding but also to hold small private lunches and dinners for individuals who may pitch in with significant donations. Such occasions involve tours of the house and an up to date reporting on the current progress of Marys House, together with a QandA on all things related e.g. the current state of services and resources for Domestic and Family Violence. We hope to engage with like minded people who have practical or financial capacity and wish to contribute. The lunches commence this week and the dinners will commence in April. If you have ideas on how YOU can contribute to fundraising please let us know!

VOLUNTEERING

Currently we are searching for these 3 special groups.

a) Event Managers and worker bees for 3 fundraising dinners to be held in April. Tasks will involve setting up the designated venue for a private dinner party of up to 25 people and to be willing to get involved with all areas of set up and catering, even cooking, to help us get the outstanding revenues required to open the doors. Any worker bees or people with catering experience out there?

b) Longer Term Fund Raising Coordinator/s who will take responsibility for follow up of offers to donate to Mary’s House. For example if some good person contacts us to say I’m planning to sell some furniture and Id like to donate the proceeds to Mary’s House, or I’m doing a fundraiser at school and we’d like to raise money for Mary’s House, we need a dedicated person/s to work with these offers and ensure smooth operations.

c) Networkers within North Sydney. We are currently seeking connected people who can introduce our Steering Committee to corporations in the local area, to propose that we work with them to raise awareness of Mary’s House and naturally, to assist with our fund raising requirements.

Thank you, and we look forward to hearing from you.

Please reply to either:
Myself:
or Liz Mackinlay from our Steering Committee

Kind Regards,
Janice Gibson
Mary’s House Volunteers, Secretary