On Sunday the district football organisation dropped off a whopping 16 boxfuls of socks, shirts and jackets to the newly formed shelter — the majority of which was new.
“It was all sitting out in storage untouched — it’s clothing that were either printed wrong or were unused leftovers — so we thought we’d have a clean up and put it to better use,” AFL Goulburn Murray operations manager Zara O’Keeffe said.
“I reached out to Kim O’Keeffe who said she’d find a way to use it, and she pointed us in the direction of the Greater Shepparton Winter Shelter.”
Formed a week ago, the shelter is a safe haven for the city's homeless during winter.
Set up to run for the next three months, those in need are given a hot dinner and a bed to stay in each night.
They are also connected back to the appropriate support services.
With new clothing rare to many of the recipients, City of Greater Shepparton Mayor Kim O’Keeffe applauded the efforts of AFL Goulburn Murray and others.
“It is so good to see the clothing going to such a worthy cause,” she said.
“Because of the quantity we are also handing out the clothing to other providers as well — there is a surplus which more than meets the needs of the shelter.
“We’ve had lots of other offers from across the community; it is amazing to see the support.
“I’m overwhelmed, but also not surprised given our community’s generosity.”
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