Partnering with BaptistCare (Dubbo Baptist Church & Wallsend Baptist Church)
Many churches from across our movement have existing partnerships with BaptistCare. Below are the stories from Dubbo Baptist Care and Wallsend Baptist church around how they have pivoted their partnerships during the COVID-19 pandemic
Wallsend Baptist Church & HopeStreet Wallsend
Dubbo Baptist Church & BaptistCare
How can Baptist churches connect with BaptistCare HopeStreet
in providing essential services to local communities?
- Connect with a local HopeStreet site – in your local area if a site is nearby or adopt a HopeStreet site in another community. Connect with the HopeStreet manager of the site and talk with them about what support is needed. You can find out where our sites are located here: hopestreet.org.au/ locations/
- Partner in prayer – pray for the work of HopeStreet overall or focus your prayers on a local HopeStreet.
- Mobilise volunteers – At BaptistCare HopeStreet we support the most vulnerable
in our local communities in providing essential services, whilst ensuring health and safety during this challenging time. Many of our crucial volunteers have understandably chosen to step down due to health and age vulnerabilities. To enable us to maintain our vital assistance we have volunteer opportunities in our key communities.Please visit baptistcare.org.au/get-involved/volunteering or contact Liana Roccon on lroccon@baptistcare.org.au or 0490 293 463.
- Provide financial support – the need for food support and other forms of emergency relief is escalating and financial support enables us to help more people. BaptistCare HopeStreet is able to stretch financial support to maximise the impact by our relationships with suppliers and agencies including Foodbank, OzHarvest, SecondBite and Good360.
- Donations of material goods such as used clothing and blankets create major challenges for us in relation to health and safety given the need to comply with government directives.
- Our strong preference is that donations be made through financial support. If you have access to a non-financial donation which you believe could be useful, please check with your local HopeStreet manager before providing help in this way. We want to ensure that staff and volunteers are focussed on providing help to those who need it most and that their health and safety is not placed at risk – thanks for your understanding. You can donate at hopestreet.org.au/donate/
- Refer community contacts to BaptistCare HopeStreet –Our No and Low Interest Loans, Casework, Chaplaincy, and Counselling services are conducting individual appointments using tele or video conferencing so are available to communities across NSW and the ACT. Food support and other forms of emergency relief are available to communities in close proximity to a number of HopeStreet sites. You can be in touch with our Customer Engagement Centre on 1300 275 227 or visit hopestreet.org.au/locations/ for contact details.
- For other enquiries regarding support opportunities for churches please contact our Fundraising Team via email at fundraising@baptistcare.org.au
The text on this page has been taken from a letter from BaptistCare. To view the original letter click here.