cupboards officially open

I have long been a supporter of the Dandenong Ranges Emergency Relief Service. For near on fifteen years they have been providing relief services for those in need.


Cr Samantha Dunn cuts the ribbon to officially
open DRERS new cupboards. Also celebrating the
occasion is DRERS manager, Tania Bevan,
founder, Frank Watson and volunteers John and Bob.

Their services continue to expand with demand and DRERS find themselves playing a key role in food distribution for the vulnerable and disadvantaged in our community.

Their offices, in the old Belgrave schoolhouse, were packed to the rafters with boxes of food, making it difficult to distribute and sort. I was delighted to be able to provide a grant from my community ward fund to assist in building cupboards and shelves so DRERS could easily distribute food to needy locals.

My first official cupboard opening, it was great to be able to provide practical support to assist DRERS, they provide such an important safety net.

If you can spare some cash, food or blankets you can donate to DRERS, click here for more info.

samantha in the press - emergency relief

Service now has more in store
Mail Newspapers
by Emma Sun
30 May 2012

samantha in the press - emergency relief

Food relief comes out of box
Yarra Ranges Weekly
29 May 2012

drers need your help

Earlier this week I visited the Dandenong Ranges Emergency Relief Service to talk about a whole range of issues. I am always inspired by the people who bring this service to disadvantaged and vulnerable people in our community. They are committed to assisting people and volunteer countless hours doing so.

Pictured left to right: Eddie - Volunteer, Tania Bevan - DRERS Manager, Cr Samantha Dunn - Lyster Ward and Bob - Volunteer in front of one of the DRERS pantry food storage areas.

DRERS are currently fundraising to purchase a van to assist with their food collections from the Victorian Food Bank. At the moment staff and volunteers are using their own vehicles but there's severe limitations due to the size of their cars and issues around insurance.

I'd urge any of you with some spare funds to contribute to DRERS. DRERS will also be fundraising as part of the Belgrave Lantern Parade, be sure to look out for them.

If you'd like to contribute send your donation to:
Dandenong Ranges Emergency Relief Service Inc
1632 Burwood Highway
Belgrave VIC 3160

or call them on 9754 7777.

help for the pantry

The Dandenong Ranges Emergency Relief Centre provides a valuable service to those in our community facing hardship and crisis.

Part of those services includes distributing food to those who need it, however the DRERS pantry often runs low. Can you help with some food donations for DRERS? There are always some fast moving items in high demand, it would be great if you could help out with a pantry donation.

Fast moving items include:
100gm coffee
1lt long life milk
teabags
tinned food such as baked beans, spaghetti in sauce, vegetables, fruit, fish and soup
2 minute noodles
cereal
pasta and pasta sauces
sandwich spreads like vegemite, jam and peanut butter
and
toiletries including toilet paper.

You can also help out by visiting the DRERS Op Shop in Belgrave (the one near the Newsagent), this has proven to be another way for DRERS to fund their vital services, which are in increasing demand.

It was terrific to see Bob flying the flag for DRERS at the sausage sizzle at this weekend's Grassroots Community Market - it was a great success DRERS sold out!

Well done to all involved at DRERS, you provide an important and valuable service to those in our community facing hardship.

a new chapter for emergency relief

Tonight I attended the AGM of the Dandenong Ranges Emergency Relief Service (DRERS). Being a councillor has really opened my eyes to the range of community services out there and DRERS play an important role in helping those in our community in crisis. The people DRERS assist are often alone and isolated trying to manage complex and difficult issues.

The AGM was very well attended and there is a growing awareness and support for the work of DRERS in the community.












To ensure that funds raised from the Mayor’s Sleep Out event (see blog) came to the Dandenong Ranges and not just to Lilydale and the valley, I put forward DRERS as a recipient of the Shire’s fundraising efforts along with ANCHOR.

I also suggested to my son’s school (Selby Primary) that they should hold a Pyjama Day to assist the Shire’s fundraising efforts for the agencies that provide relief for the homeless. It was a great success and a very enthusiastic Grade 3 student helped me with the on the ground logistics. For a gold coin donation the children dressed up in their finest pyjamas and a couple of the teachers joined in for good measure.

Frank Watson, president of DRERS for the past 11 years chose not to restand, Frank has certainly seen the organisation grow in this time. I’m pleased to announce the committee for 2008/09 is:
President: Anita Burman
Vice President: Glyn Jones
Treasurer: Darrell Jolly
Secretary: Jenny Simms
General members:
Sarah Jobson
Christina Lillie
Garry Watts
David Fulford

My congratulations to the incoming committee members, I look forward to working with them in the future.

community grants award night

It was a great pleasure to attend the Community Grants Awards Night held tonight in Mooroolbark. It was wonderful to see the diversity of projects across the shire receive much needed funding through the Shire’s Community Grants program.

I was pleased that a number of local projects received funding and was thrilled to be charged with the job of handing over cheques to:
Dandenong Ranges Emergency Relief Service for a project to build partnerships with churches, local traders & service clubs. DRERS offers a valuable service to the most needy in the hills community by providing emergency relief for those experiencing hardship or crisis;

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Survival day 2008. Despite a very hot and oppressive day, the community came out in force to celebrate indigenous culture and heritage.

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Belgrave Survival Day Committee for Belgrave Survival Day 2009, Survival Day is an acknowledgement and celebration of the survival of Indigenous culture with family picnic, music, dancers, speakers, information stalls and children's entertainment;
Blue Dandenongs Film Festival Committee for the Blue Dandenongs Young Filmmakers Festival 2009 - a vibrant celebration of film culture, showcasing the best short films by emerging filmmakers in a quality festival environment at our very own Cameo Outdoor Cinema;
Open Studios Committee for Open Studios Dandenong Ranges – to promote an Open Weekend and Exhibition of working artist’s studios in the Dandenong Ranges;

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This year's lantern festival was well supported by the community, the grant will help this festival become even more successful.

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Belgrave Community Arts Partnership for the Solstice Festival of Light (Belgrave Lantern Festival), a warming winter solstice festival that engages the community in showcasing the creative talents of local residents.

Others in my ward who received grants but weren’t able to attend on the night include:
Eucalypt Creative Living Centre/Tecoma Uniting Church for Ever Flowing – a project for people of all abilities co-create and perform music and poetry and
Southern Sherbrooke Historical Society for Sherbrooke: The Thirty Years War - Recording oral histories relating to the Shire of Sherbrooke.

One of the grant recipients remarked how encouraging it was that so many community development projects received funding. It is a great way to get your all important project off the ground, I encourage more groups to apply for funding in next year’s round.

There are three types of grants available for one off community grants being the Community Development program, the Cultural Development program and the Capital Development program. For more info visit:
http://www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/Page/Page.asp?Page_Id=740