The organisation is urging locals to volunteer their time to give hope where it’s needed most and get involved with Australia’s biggest doorknock – The Salvos Red Shield Appeal Doorknock.

The Salvation Army’s Communication and Fundraising director Leigh Cleave says despite Australia being a wealthy country, the demand on Salvo services is greater than ever.

Local groups in the Kiama area, including community groups, churches, Scouts, Guides, sporting groups, workplaces or anyone willing to lend a hand, are being urged to volunteer time to get involved with the Red Shield Doorknock.

Mrs Cleave said hard times for some families can simply be just one paycheque away, with many families doing it tough and relying on The Salvation Army for support.

“As a country, we have never been richer. Across the board, our standard of living continues to improve in almost every category. But these gains and opportunities have not been distributed fairly, with millions of Australians living on the margins,” she said.

“We like to think of Australia as the land of the ‘fair go’, but unless people are willing to go the extra mile to help those in need, this idea will become a relic of the past.” 

The Salvos aim to mobilise 60,000 people across the nation to raise $8 million over the Red Shield Appeal Doorknock weekend.

“By giving just a few hours of your time, you can make a meaningful difference to the lives of people doing it tough. You can give hope where it’s needed most,” she says.

The weekend of the big doorknock nationwide is Saturday May 27 and Sunday May 28.To volunteer for this year’s Red Shield Doorknock weekend please call 13 SALVOS (13 72 58) or register at salvos.org.au/volunteer.

You can donate to the Red Shield Appeal Doorknock by calling 13 SALVOS (13 72 58), online at salvos.org.au, in person at any Westpac branch or by posting your cheque to PO Box 9888 in your capital city.