Vinnies is actively looking for more local volunteers

Vinnies NSW State Council vice president Paul Shiel, with volunteers Mathew Chu, Bev Anderson, Dora Difilippo and Patti Pratt at the Cobar store open day on Saturday.
Vinnies NSW State Council vice president Paul Shiel, with volunteers Mathew Chu, Bev Anderson, Dora Difilippo and Patti Pratt at the Cobar store open day on Saturday.

Staff from the St Vincent de Paul (or Vinnies) NSW State Council were in Cobar on Saturday to host an open day at the Cobar Vinnies store in an effort to recruit more volunteers.

NSW State Council vice president Paul Shiel said there’s already a good band of volunteers here in Cobar, however they need more.

“At the moment we are closed two afternoons a week and we don’t open on Saturdays.

“We need more people to help us here and we need more people to help us out visiting people and assisting the needy as well.”

Mr Shiel said ideally Vinnies would like to be able to have their Cobar store open six days a week and, in addition to having more helpers in the shop to sort, price and sell their donated goods, Mr Shiel hoped locals would put their hand up to join the Cobar ‘Conference’

“The Conference people assist people with food and vouchers, electricity bills, sometimes rent and other needs.

“We’d like to be able to visit lonely people, people in the nursing home or in hospital.”

He said if people could donate a couple of hours a week, “that would be perfect or 2-3 hours a fortnight”.

“If someone has an hour here or there, we can find a job for them.”

Mr Shiel said if anyone is interested in signing up as a volunteer, they may phone or call into the Cobar Vinnies store and leave their name and contact details.