SJOS UPDATE #2 – 2021

The latest news from SJOS / St Joseph’s Outreach Services Inc.


| May 21, 2021

SJOS HIGHLIGHTS

At the end of March, the COVID restrictions on housing moves were lifted. In the middle of April, 2 families were able to move into permanent public housing, in Ascot Vale and Flemington, and more recently, another renter was able to find private rental. With this easing of restrictions also came the new Residential Tenancies Regulations 2021 and SJOS is working to ensure that all the safety checks and the standard regulations are in place. As some of the SJOS Units are nearly 20 years old, replacement of some appliances is needed.

SJOS Food Store

Patron: Sir James Gobbo AV CVO

President: Ms. Joan Donoghue

CONTACT US

St Joseph’s Outreach Services (SJOS)
Post Office Box 21
South Yarra VIC 3141

Email: [email protected]
Website: www.sjos.org.au

DONATIONS ARE WELCOME

DONATIONS TO SJOS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME | DONATE NOW

Our mission is to provide transitional housing and
support services to those in need, regardless of race
or creed and to work towards relieving the effects of
poverty in our community.

THE SJOS MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

Guided by the expertise of SJOS President, Joan Donoghue, the SJOS Management Committee is currently reviewing and updating all policies and procedures to ensure SJOS moves forward, COVID Safe and Compliant. Various nonprofit policies and procedures ensure that organisations such as SJOS respond fairly and equitably in all situations. These policy reviews will assist SJOS in ensuring that all government regulations are being met. SJOS Committee member, Jay Ralston-Phillips, has worked tirelessly to support these reviews and once finalized all policies will be available on www.sjos.org.au

THE SJOS FOOD STORE

Throughout the autumn, the SJOS Food Store has continued to see growing numbers of visitors, all needing emergency relief support. Popular, and more expensive, items like coffee, honey, and cheese continue to be requested and now with the cooler months, chunky soups are popular. It is hoped that our wholesale supplies will start to have some of these items on “special” to reduce the expense.

 

Over the past few months, there has been an anonymous friend who nearly every week leaves us a grocery bag full of cans of baked beans and spaghetti. The Food Store has a special basket in which we put these cans so that our visitors can get something extra when they shop. Our sincere thanks to this thoughtful anonymous philanthropist.

 

The SJOS Food Store is still in need of volunteers. The store is only open 3 times every week and the opening hours are:

 

  • Thursday – 10:00 am to 11:30 am
  • Saturday – 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm
  • Sunday – 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm

If anyone is available and would like to assist, please call Toni Stuart at the SY Parish Centre on 9826 9677 and she will add your name to the roster. Thank you to all the wonderful volunteers who currently support this service and we hope we can add more names to the roster to ensure the continuance of these efforts throughout winter.

THE SJOS BREAD BANK

The Fabulous SJOS Garden Club.

We are so fortunate to have a really strong team of very enthusiastic and passionate gardeners. They have achieved so much, growing some wonderful produce for the Food Store, as well are ensuring that everything is in order in the part of the garden area that is also the playground for the Almost French Kindergarten. This collaboration means that the children now have a much safer space in which to play and they are learning to appreciate how things grow.

During autumn, the produce harvested from the garden included silverbeet, basil, Vietnamese mint, curry leaves, parsley, broccoli and peas. The compost bin and the worm farm are working well and the group have decided to plant 2 avocado trees. With a monthly meeting structured as a working bee, the team continues to really work the garden.

THE SJOS UNITS’ COMPLIANCE REPORT:

The SJOS Units came into being with the 2002 St Joseph’s Primary School closure. Now, with nearly 20 years of history, and many different families using the facilities, some of the appliances are reaching their “use-by” date. The annual gas appliance check revealed this even more so this year, so we will be replacing four of the gas heaters in time for the cold winter weather. One of these being replaced is a wall furnace requiring additional structural work before installation.

SJOS FUNDRAISING:

The opportunity to have the usual fundraising activities has been challenged by COVID restrictions. Although SJOS would love to have a Film Night, a Comedy Night or a High Tea Afternoon, these activities will not work with the safe distancing restrictions currently in place. It is hoped that by the end of 2021, with greater COVID controls, we will be able to again plan a fundraising event for all our volunteers, friends and supporters. Hopefully, more news to come!

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED | VOLUNTEER NOW!

Contact [email protected]

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

SJOS | [email protected] | www.sjos.org.au | Post Office Box 21, South Yarra VIC 3141


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