By Tyler Wright
A Belgrave-based charity is looking for more helpers on Saturdays amid a volunteer shortage.
Dandenong Ranges Relief Service (DRERS) volunteer John Landon said the pandemic among other factors has made people “nervous” to volunteer.
“We’re down volunteers compared to previous years,” John said.
To combat this, DRERS is planning to hold a regular sausage sizzle on Saturdays at the Upper Ferntree Gully Market, with the goal of attracting new volunteers while also raising funds for the non-profit, which provides food, food vouchers, crisis counselling and referrals to those in need south west of the ranges.
“Because we’re open Monday to Fridays, not everyone’s about to volunteer during [those hours],” John said.
“Maybe this sausage sizzle, on the weekend, on a Saturday, would be another opportunity for someone to help out who’s been wanting to help out but hasn’t been able to do it midweek.
“The money raised from sausage sizzle will go back to running our service.”
30 volunteers currently run the organisation’s emergency relief service, drop in centre, op shop and committee, and help roughly 1000 people with their services yearly,
While DRERS receives funding to provide vouchers and emergency relief to dedicated areas from Upper Ferntree Gully, to Cockatoo, Yellingbo and Mount Dandenong, anyone can use the Mi Place Drop in centre.
“When clients come in for help, some of the volunteers have a consultation with them, they sit down and discuss what what the situation is with the person struggling and then how we can provide help,” John said.
“Other people sort of focus more on the food pickups… picking up food from supermarkets or places like Food Bank, Victoria, and then you’ve got other people who are running the drop in centre. They’re volunteers who like when patients come in to have a drink, or food. They can play board games, or we’re going to arcade game now table tennis table snooker table.
“The people at the shop can either serve customers or sort through donations, and then here, we’ve got the committee…[which makes] the decisions to help run the organisation.
If you are interested in volunteering at a sausage sizzle on Saturdays, or contributing to another role at DRERS, you can contact contact (03) 9754 7777, 0468 468 430 or email enquire@drers.org.au.
Potential volunteers will need a food handling certificate, which can be attained in a free online course.
A police check and working with childrens check will also be required.
“Sometimes you don’t realise until you volunteer at these sorts of organisations how much need there is in your own community,” John said.
“Anybody can find themselves in a crisis at any point, all of a sudden [having] illness, domestic violence, that sort of thing in your life can change just like that.”
DRERS is located at 1616/1624 Burwood Hwy, Belgrave VIC 3160.
