The national Red Shield Appeal doorknock is this Saturday and Sunday, May 26 and 27 and as part of the annual appeal, Moree Salvation Army is hosting a barbecue from 10am to 2pm at Woolworths Moree in conjunction with the start of 2018 Reconciliation Week.

The local team will also be collecting donations at Woolworths throughout this week ahead of the appeal, as well as at the Moree Picnic Races on Saturday.

Moree Salvation Army program manager Jason Poutawa said all money raised locally will go straight back into helping local people through the various programs and assistance provided in Moree.

“It’s just making people aware of what we’re doing in town,” he said.

“The fundraising will help resource the Salvation Army’s work in town; we run a youth and children’s program at the old league’s club in Anne Street. We get about 70 kids each Friday night and we play some sport and games and do a barbecue.

“We also help people in a spot of bother and need welfare.”

In addition to the Moree Salvation Army store, which offers an array of clothing and furniture items for people in need, Moree residents are also able to access financial counselling and a range of other services through the Salvation Army.

Mr Poutawa said the Salvos help many people in Moree who may find themselves experiencing hardship.

“There’s a number of people in Moree that are struggling, either on benefits or not able to find employment, and what they’re getting from Centrelink is not sufficient to cover their weekly bills,” he said.

“People are not able to get by themselves.

“We try to fill that gap.”

The Salvation Army store will have a collection box set up for the next few weeks for people who wish to drop off a donation. They can take cheques and are able to provide tax deductible receipts.

The Salvation Army is hoping to raise $7.5 million during this year’s Red Shield Appeal. In a typical week, the Salvos provide more than 17,000 beds for those suffering homelessness, 40,000 meals for the hungry, over 1,400 financial counselling sessions and refuge for over 100 women affected by domestic violence.

You can donate to the Red Shield Appeal by calling 13 SALVOS (13 72 58), online at salvos.org.au, in person at any Westpac branch or Salvos Stores or by posting your cheque to PO Box 9888 in your capital city.