By CASEY NEILL
SUPPORT for Springvale’s most vulnerable will more than halve without help from the business community.
That was the warning from Springvale Benevolent Society president Joe Rechichi last week as he appealed for donations to cope with a $70,000 cut in Federal Government funding.
“All we need is half a dozen companies to sponsor us a little bit.
“We will show the government that we can survive,” he said.
In January the Journal reported that the society missed out on Department of Social Services (DSS) funding for the first time in 20 years.
“They never gave me a reason for it. Still to this day, I don’t know why,” Mr Rechichi said.
“The last three months have been very sad. We’ve been agonising.”
The group has been providing food vouchers, blankets and other assistance to the community for 53 years.
Mr Rechichi said committee members at a recent meeting decided to continue running – at 40 per cent strength.
“We have 600 clients on our books,” he said.
“If we service them every four months, I don’t have to make a decision personally who I’m going to assist and who I’m not.”
He’s been directing anyone he can’t help to contact Assistant Social Services Minister Mitch Fifield.
“As of today, (Social Services Minister) Scott Morrison’s department haven’t sent me a proper succession agent to pass on our clients,” he said.
But Mr Fifield said the DSS had encouraged the society to engage with providers in the area that did receive funding, to discuss transition arrangements.
“Last year the government undertook a competitive tender for organisations seeking funding under an $800 million DSS grants round,” he said.
“The DSS is assisting new and existing providers to ensure that clients are referred to new services where required, and will continue to monitor these arrangements to make sure any service gaps are addressed.”
Call Springvale Benevolent Society on 9546 5558 to assist.
