With the majority of rural and regional Australia ravaged by the worst drought in decades, a group of Adventist Retirement village residents have dug deep in a solid show of support for Aussie farmers.
Residents at Avondale Lifestyle Community, a retirement village run by the Seventh-day Adventist Church in North New South Wales, and its surrounding Cooranbong community raised a total of $A42,500 for New South Wales (NSW) farmers, with 100 per cent of the funds going directly to farmers in the Pilliga and Gwabegar areas of north-eastern NSW. Every farming family will also receive supermarket gift cards and food hampers packaged and hand-delivered by local church members.
“Having witnessed the devastation first-hand, I knew that it was just so widespread that no one fundraiser or organisation could possibly be big enough to make an impact,” said Lionel Smith, who organised the fundraiser. However he also knew that the Avondale Lifestyle Community would rally behind the cause and do their part to help.
“Residents in our retirement village have donated over $A17,500 to the cause thus far,” said David Knight, CEO of Adventist Senior Living. “As an organisation, we have matched that with another $15,000 and the local Cooranbong Community Services Centre, manned largely by village residents, has donated a further $10,000.”
The village has also partnered with the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) to raise further funds. All monies are remitted directly to ADRA. If you would like to donate, you can do so at: https://droughtrelief.gofundraise.com.au/page/davidknight4.
