“THE greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members,” said Coretta Scott King and if compassion is ‘giving a hand -up, not a hand-out,’ then Neighbourhood houses across Victoria are the glue that work to keep out communities strong.
Hosting registered training programs and innumerable social and support groups, the dedicated staff and volunteers at North Shepparton Community and Learning Centre (NSCLC) go over and beyond in the service they provide.
From tax returns to filling out personal documentation, skilled volunteers are on hand at NSCLC to offer practical assistance to those with little or no English and people with special needs.
With clothing and books free to exchange and with a computer lab, kitchen (booked) and showers on offer for those without, CEO Debbi Orlandi laments growing community need outweighs what she and her small, part-time staff can provide.
“We all must wear different hats and everyone chips in. The community is like our family and the staff here will go beyond and above what a normal employee would do for anyone in the community, we know the families, we’ve watched the kids grow up.”
Full-time staff is the centre’s greatest need requiring additional as well as recurrent funding. But while acknowledging volunteers as “…the be all and end all in the community,” Debbi states that more volunteers are always required.
“We need volunteers who can maintain the community veggie patch, so we can put vegetables in the food trolley, because it seems it’s the basics that people need these days.”
Suits for job interviews and new computers are also on the centre’s wish list.
