Generations of women tackling homelessness
320 women came together in support of Jewish Care Victoria’s Housing Support Program at the 22ndAnnual Generations of Women Brunch.
Front row L to R: Melissa Davis, Andie Halas, Sara Pike, Elyse Schachna, Tammie Slade
Back row L to R: Miriam Farkas, Keren Zelwer, Hilary Cohen
Held at Brighton Receptions, the brunch raised more than $90,000 towards the Housing Support Program, which supports individuals and families at risk of homelessness.
Guest speaker Andie Halas is a former Director of Australian swimwear company Seafolly and founder of not-for-profit organisation Thread Together. Halas shared her story of how a chance encounter with a mother searching for suitable clothes for her child at the Asylum Seeker Centre motivated her to start Thread Together, an organisation that sources brand-new clothing destined for landfill and redistributes it to people in need across Australia.
Halas’s story was an inspirational reminder to attendees that “possibilities, profitability and social good don’t have to be mutually exclusive.”
Marilyn Kraner, Manager Individual and Family Services at Jewish Care also addressed the audience, speaking of the vital services Jewish Care provides to individuals and families seeking support through the Jewish Care Housing Support Program.
“We continue to see an increasing number of families and children at risk of homelessness seeking support from Jewish Care,” said Kraner. “Our Housing Support Program not only provides housing support but a range of wrap-around services that seek to provide long-term solutions to deal with the circumstances that initially caused the homelessness.”
This year, the Annual Generations of Women Brunch surpassed $1.5million of total funds raised since its inception 22 years ago.
“I am extremely proud to once again be part of this uplifting Jewish Care event,” said Melissa Davis, Generations of Women Committee Co-Chair. “It is wonderful to see women in the Victorian Jewish community come together each year to support Jewish Care, an organisation that encourages individuals and our community to grow stronger.”
For more information about Jewish Care’s Housing Support Program, visit www.jewishcare.org.au/community-services/housing-supportor contact 8517 5999 or [email protected]
