By Danielle Kutchel
After years of waiting and fundraising, Narre Warren South Scout Group will soon be able to meet in a new hall – but before they can take their seats, they need to kit out the building.
The Group is currently fundraising to fit out the new Scout hall with tables, chairs, shelves, a kitchen and cleaning equipment so the building will be fit for use.
The Group envisages that it will be used not just by the Scouts, but by others in the community who need a place to meet.
It will also allow the Group to grow and take on more members, offering a safe, respectful and stimulating place for young people in the area to gather, make friends and learn new skills.
Stacey Herring, a group leader with Narre Warren South Scout Group, said the new meeting place had been many years in the making.
The Group has benefited from State Government and Casey Council funding in the past.
They’re currently taking part in a Scouts Victoria Monster Raffle to raise funds to finish the building.
They’ve set themselves a target of raising $2000, equivalent to selling 1000 tickets.
The raffle will be drawn on Friday 5 November and has over 100 prizes including a Suzuki Vitara and a family holiday.
Ms Herring said it had been difficult to fundraise during the pandemic with many normal routes of raising money, like sausage sizzles and ticket sales in shopping centres, paused thanks to restrictions.
But she said the community’s response to the online raffle had been strong.
The purchase price of every ticket goes directly to the scouts, and Ms Herring said all donations were very appreciated.
To purchase tickets in the raffle, visit https://scoutsvic.raffletix.com.au/narrewarrensouth
