Coats for the Homeless 2016 Distribution
Thank you for your support
Rough sleeper Shaun Farrell has an extra layer to keep him warm thanks to one of 100 coats gifted to the homeless in Auckland by the NSW branch of the Order of Malta.
In 2016 the Australian Association has distributed a record 6,000 of our specially designed Coats for the Homeless.
Thank you to our donors who have supported this project and to our distribution partners who help us get the Coats to the people in need.
As this year’s distribution draws to a close, planning for the 2017 distribution is already underway. We hope that we will be able to match this distribution again next winter.
Please find below some feedback from the project:
“As winter is now with us the coats will be distributed to our homeless and needy clients. Not only will they be kept warm and dry, they will also feel that someone cares enough to give them a coat to help them manage during the cold and rainy months ahead.”
Shirley Kelynack, President of Waitara St Vincent de Paul
“Coats for the Homeless’ program provides an opportunity to help at a very fundamental level. Can you imagine living on the streets of Sydney in the cold without a coat to keep you warm? These coats offered protection against the cold and I like to believe they also gave people a feeling of hope and dignity.”
Joe Cashman, CEO of CatholicCare Parramatta
Grateful Coats recipient in Alice Springs
“Katalyst would like to thank the Order of Malta for enabling us to obtain the coats they had specifically designed for the homeless. George has successfully distributed the coats through the soup van to the regular users of the service. They have been received with appreciation from those doing it tough. The Order of Malta has also generously allowed us to put in an order for coats for Winter 2017. We would like to sincerely thank them for giving us the opportunity to bring a little more comfort and hope into the lives of those less fortunate than ourselves.”
Katalyst Foundation, distribution in Victoria
“I wanted to write to you to thank you for your very generous donation of coats for the homeless. The quality of these coats is exceptional and they have been so greatly appreciated by everyone who received them. We have given away approximately two thirds of the coats we received to people we have met in the Western Sydney community who are homeless or suffering others forms of disadvantage and deprivation. A number of these people were living on the streets and the coats were so helpful and practical to them as they faced this crisis. One third of the coats are being held to distribute to Syrian refugees who we expect to arrive in our community in the next few weeks. This will be a wonderful, practical gift to them and another tangible sign that Australia is a community that cares about them.”
Coats distributed St Kilda in conjunction-with Katalyst Foundation
Major Paul Moulds AM, Director -The Salvation Army Auburn District
“We in the Auckland Diocese are most grateful for the generous gifts of 100 quality, weatherproof and warm coats which were gifted to us by the Sydney Members of the International Order of Malta.
The Coats are being distributed to the homeless people in our city by St Patrick’s Cathedral, the James Liston Hostel and the Otara Parish”.
Bishop Patrick Dunn, Bishop of Auckland
Reminder: we will be finalising our production volumes for the 2017 Coats distribution in October. Please ensure all requests are with your local Branch before this time to avoid disappointment!
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