Blanket drive to warm poor

By Melissa Meehan
SPRINGVALES Benevolent Society has launched a blanket drive to prevent the citys poorest residents from living in the freezing cold this winter.
Escalating rent and utilities prices have left many out in the cold this winter, councillor Roz Blades says.
I have actually seen people sleeping in bus stops throughout the municipality, Cr Blades said.
People without blankets, with newspapers covering them.
It really shows the hardships that many of our residents are facing.
Others are reluctant to turn on their heating as they struggle to cope with the rising cost of petrol, housing and groceries. Launching the blanket drive this week, the society called on residents to donate clean blankets or travel rugs so that residents, with or without a roof over their heads, can keep warm in the cold months.
To donate blankets contact councillor Roz Blades on 0417 053 612 or the Springvale Benevolent Society on 9547 2703, and they will arrange to pick them up.