$1m council Christmas club

THE City of Casey will investigate how it could raise $1 million to help those in need, particularly during the Christmas period.
At last week’s Casey Council meeting, councillor Sam Aziz got unanimous support on a motion he moved that called on officers to look at ways the council could provide more support for vulnerable members of the community.
Among a number of suggestions put forward to be investigated were initiatives that the council could undertake to raise $1 million from the private sector over 2013 to support local charities and assist residents in need.
Cr Aziz said the council could consider an annual Casey Christmas Blitz, which could utilise these funds to ensure that every family in need is able to have a Christmas dinner and every child in need in Casey receives a new toy for Christmas 2013.
“This issue is dear to my heart,” Cr Aziz said.
“2013 is looking to see a number of struggling families.
“We could use it all as a vehicle to assist vulnerable members of the community.
“We could use that money particularly at Christmas, as we want everyone to be able to share in the spirit of Christmas.”
The council will also investigate procedural steps required to establish the Casey Charitable Trust and explore the possibility of finding a recreational centre in Casey where daily organised programs could be conducted for disengaged and vulnerable members of the community.
Cr Aziz said he believe more could be done.
“I’m really optimistic about what we are trying to do here,” he said.
“My aspiration is that this city could also been known as the city that really looks after its own.”
Casey North Community Information and Support Service executive officer Susan Magee welcomed the council’s steps to do more for vulnerable members of the community.
“Given that households experiencing financial hardship continue to be on the increase at organisations such as ours, any effort to assist the local community would be well received,” she said.
Ms Magee said the Casey Christmas Blitz was a good idea, and there was more demand on services during the festive season.
“Christmas time is always busy for our centres with families trying to stretch their already overburdened budgets further to make it a bit more special,” she said.
“The local community is very generous and we are fortunate to receive many donations of food and toys co-ordinated by the Berwick and District Benevolent Society.
“However this year we are running low on toys and Christmas fare.“We have 210 families on our Christmas list, with another 20 on a wait list if we have enough.
“A Christmas blitz would be great as this would work to ensure that all families that are in need are assisted.
“However, Christmas does not see the end of the hardship.
“During January we are very busy trying to assist families that do not have enough funds to meet the ever-increasing costs of school books and uniforms and at the same time trying to provide some low-cost entertainment for children during the school holidays.
“$1 million would certainly take the pressure off for many of those families.”
A report will come back to council in the suggestions in February next year.