Back, Springvale Benevolent Society president Joe Rechichi, secretary Wes Eggleston and volunteers Albert and Patrica Blashki with some of the much needed items people can donate or contribute funds towards.
By Shaun Inguanzo
A SPRINGVALE aid agency is urging councillors to think twice before slashing community grants.
The Springvale Benevolent Society is lobbying governments and asking the community for more money as food prices skyrocket and refugees pour into the city.
Vice-president Albert Blashki said inflation was making the supply of food vouchers, blankets and other emergency aid to Springvale’s refugees more expensive.
“We used to give $20 food vouchers to cover a week, but now we can’t,” he said.
“For the bare essentials we have now got to give $50 or $60 for that week.”
The society’s campaign comes as Greater Dandenong Council plans to slash its $1.6 million community grants program.
A draft budget includes cuts of $100,000 to the program because councillors feel the city is “too generous”.
“We have lost staff in the grants department who cannot cope with the pressure put on them by community groups,” mayor Peter Brown told Star.
But Mr Blashki warned any cuts affecting small ethnic groups would place more stress on the Benevolent Society.
“I don’t think council would be game to cut those grants. There would be a flaming outcry,” he said.
Springvale Benevolent Society has served the community for 44 years and needs $70,000 to operate each year.
Each year it receives $30,000 from the Federal Government and $12,000 from Greater Dandenong Council and relies on small grants and donations to cover the shortfall.
