Congratulations to Paying It Forward Homeless Services (PIF’s) Good360’s August Member Of The Month. Paying it Forward Homeless Services provides regular meal services and access to care packages to people experiencing homelessness, mental health concerns and domestic violence. Since partnering with Good360 they have been able to help a huge 2,400 people in need.
When did you join Good360?
We joined Good360 on the 30th April 2020
What programs do you use your Good360 donations for? Who does the program serve? How does it impact Australians in need?
All product received are used for PIF’s weekly Homeless Dinner Service. This program serves the Indigenous, underprivileged, homeless, rough sleepers, car sleepers, patrons who are involved with DV, and people who have mental health issues. We serve patrons in the Penrith local area and some outside of the area as well. For many this dinner service is the only hot meal they have.
Care packages are distributed at dinner time, it allows patrons to have some health and hygiene products as well as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to assist in keeping them safe, with a breakfast pack and some non-perishable items to get them through the week.
What is your favourite moment/interaction that you have had with a client when utilising the Good360 product?
Every moment is a favourite when helping those in need and seeing a relieved look on the patrons faces when care packages are distributed. A very welcome winter care package supplied through Good360 and BIG W was distributed to those in need. PIF patrons were very thankful, and some were beyond words. Patrons were putting on their new warm tracksuits during dinner service. One family is caring for their 8 children said, “finally we’re going to be warm now” It’s moments like these that are priceless.
How does Good360 help your mission?
Good360 enables PIF to continue to support people in need. Without the assistance of Good360 we would not have the funding to continually supply PPE, hygiene and many other products to assist in keeping patrons safe. PIF could not afford to do this as there is no way of fundraising at present and donations are at a low level due to the impacts of natural disasters and COVID.
What would happen if Good360 wasn’t here to help?
The community would be much poorer, and this would have a ripple effect, not only for material things but also for mental health. The goods supplied by Good360 bring joy to many as well as the purpose they have (e.g. hygiene, cleaning, PPE etc) Good360 helps PIF to ensure the vulnerable in our community feel cared for and worthy.
What is your favourite donation you have received from Good360? Why?
This past winter we were fortunate enough to be granted a voucher donation from BIG W. PIF used this voucher to purchase winter tracksuits, towels, blankets and hygiene items. Being able to purchase specific items for the target audience meant that PIF could get exactly what was needed and the timing for these items could not have been more perfect!
How many lives have you impacted through Good360’s donations? (estimate)
On average PIF “care” for 30 – 50 people a week, since joining Good360 over 2,400 lives have been impacted, this may be more due to the ripple effect this would have on the community…Thank you Good360!
To learn more about Good360 membership click here
