Anti Poverty WeekMarrickville Council highlighted the growing incidence of local, national and global poverty during Anti Poverty Week, 14-20 October 2012. Council donated $2,500 to both the Exodus Foundation and Baptist Community Services (BCS) to assist these two organisations in providing services to disadvantaged people in the Marrickville LGA. The cheques were presented by Mayor of Marrickville, Clr Victor Macri. The Exodus Foundation is a major charitable organisation based in Ashfield that provides food services, accommodation, education and vocational training, essential household items and social support for marginalised and disadvantaged people. The Exodus Foundation food van is also located at Addison Road Centre in Marrickville which provides lunch meals during the week, welfare support, clothing and blankets. BCS runs the community gardens and BBQs held each week in the grounds of All Saints Church in Petersham, and provide outreach social support services to Petersham boarding house residents. BCS will also operate their Food 4 Life program from their shopfront on Crystal Street Petersham. Food 4 Life will provide people experiencing disadvantage with access to nutritional food. Clients with a Government benefit card can register with the program and receive grocery products of their choice. Marrickville Council also marked Anti-Poverty Week by presenting Council's Community Grants to the successful applicants. This year, 22 organisations/projects are being funded through the Community Grants Program which will benefit many disadvantaged residents in the Marrickville area. Marrickville StatisticsAccording to the most recent Census in 2006, almost one quarter of residents in the Marrickville area struggle to make ends meet on low incomes. That means that more than 16,500 residents earn about $250 per week, or roughly the same as the single person's pension. Added to the lack of affordable housing available due to the westward migration of people on higher incomes, many people are finding life hard in the inner west. The 2006 Census data shows that nearly 25% of residents are in receipt of pensioner concession cards or Commonwealth low income health care cards. In specific suburbs such as South Marrickville, Marrickville, Tempe and Sydenham, nearly 30% of the population exist on very low incomes (ABS). About Anti Poverty WeekGlobally, around 1.4 billion people live in extreme poverty, with women representing a staggering 70% of the world's poor. Anti-Poverty Week was established in Australia as an extension of the United Nations' International Poverty Day, and aims to strengthen public understanding of the causes and consequences of poverty and hardship. Anti-Poverty Week encourages research, discussion and action to address these problems, including actions by individuals, communities, organisations and governments. There are many ways to get involved and help out in the local community. Organisations such as STARS based at the Canterbury City Community Centre, specialises in recruiting and training volunteers to support not-for-profit organisations throughout Marrickville, Canterbury and Leichhardt. Volunteering can be very rewarding, and is a way of offering something back to the community.
To take part in Anti-Poverty Week activities organised by Marrickville Council or for more information call 9335 2222. Related pages
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