For the first time in more than 55 years of knocking on doors each May, The Salvation Army is taking the Red Shield Appeal digital in response to COVID-19’s impact on social contact.
The Salvos hope to enlist 10,000 virtual collectors to sign up and fundraise for the Red Shield Appeal Digital Doorknock on 23 and 24 May to help meet the challenging times ahead.
Salvos are asking people across Australia to become digital fundraisers by going to digitaldoorknock.salvationarmy.org.au and setting up their own donation webpage to support the Red Shield Appeal and help those doing it tough.
According to The Salvation Army’s Major David McMurray, Australians are facing an economic and social crisis unlike anything witnessed in recent decades and the Salvos are preparing to provide hardship support on an unprecedented scale.
Major McMurray said, “We anticipate seeing some of the greatest need that we’ve ever seen in our 140-year history serving Australians. The COVID-19 crisis has financially crippled many Australians and the impact it is having will be felt for many, many months to come”.
The money raised from the Red Shield Appeal Digital Doorknock in the Canberra region will stay in the region and help fund local initiatives.
The Salvation Army’s most recent annual report (2018-19) noted its social services provided more than one million sessions of care to Australians in need, helped 46,000 people experiencing homelessness, provided financial counselling to more than 65,000 and offered care to 13,000 people who were coping with family violence.
The past year also saw an ongoing response to drought, while Salvation Army Emergency Services responded to the rolling bushfires crisis by providing more than 500,000 meals and refreshments to first responders and displaced people.
“The Salvos are going digital this year and its easier than ever to volunteer your time and help raise money for those in need. We are asking our local community to partner with us to provide the critical care needed as we face these challenging times. We know when the chips are down, Aussies come together and do what they can to give hope, this is no more important than now”, says Major McMurray.
To sign up and volunteer to fundraise go to digitaldoorknock.salvationarmy.org.au.
To donate, go to salvationarmy.org.au or call 13 SALVOS (13 72 58).
