Asylum seekers in the western suburbs have received a helping hand from an unexpected source.
West Welcome Wagon (WWW) president Mia McGregor says prisoners at the Metropolitan Remand Centre at Ravenhall have been making small wooden coffee tables for distribution to asylum-seeker households.
“We have a huge waiting list for these and hardly ever get donations of tables small enough to fit into the tiny apartments many people live in,” Ms McGregor said.
Department of Justice staff recently helped deliver the hand-crafted tables to households in need.
WWW member and local firefighter Jake Brown also came to the rescue, securing a $6000 grant from the Firefighters Charity Fund to provide heaters for households in need.
Retailer Stan Cash came to the party with a hefty discount, enabling the purchase and delivery of 104 safe heaters. This followed a $2000 grant to WWW for project funding from the Seddon branch of the Bendigo Bank. The grant acknowledged a submission titled Warm Homes, Warm Hearts.
Ms McGregor submitted a plan to keep houses warmer by identifying areas where cold draughts could be blocked, using an infra-red thermal imaging camera and draught-proofing materials.
WWW won the $2000 competition with a record number of votes.
Details: www.westwelcomewagon.org.au
