THE small city of Goulburn saved Melina Skidmore’s life.
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Shuffled between 144 foster homes in a five year period, a teenage Melina attempted suicide and spent periods homeless or sleeping on the streets.
By 1996 she’d found continuity and hope in the Southern Tablelands city, graduating from Mulwaree High School and signing-up with the Air Force Cadets.
“Goulburn was my saviour,” she explains.
Now, nearly two decades on, the charity Ms Skidmore has since founded is throwing its support behind Goulburn’s modern-day homeless.
Angels For The Forgotten staff have sourced and packaged dozens of toiletry kits with the city’s most vulnerable at heart.
Those packages were on Friday delivered to volunteers at the Uniting Church Drop In Centre – launched at the beginning of this month.
The Centre’s creation opens doors to a meal, warm drink, swag and company for Goulburn’s poorest.
Those in the homeless community now have the chance to brush their teeth, jump through the shower and wash their hair – luxuries taken for granted by many.
Drop In Centre volunteers have established rapport with seven regular visitors since their August 2 opening.
The impending closure of St Anthony’s Women’s Refuge and the shutting down of men’s hostel Kennedy House will drive those figures up. So too will Drop In Centre staff’s ability to earn community’s trust.
“With the homeless, it’s word of mouth. You have to build up their trust,” acting centre manager Sue Robinson said.
“We’ve been getting between one and five visitors every day. There are seven people we’re serving regularly.
“We’re starting slow, but we’re expecting that to pick up.”
The community’s generosity is heart-warming, Dr Robinson added.
Be it a packet of Weet-Bix, carton of eggs, sleeping bags or jackets, donations have been frequent and well considered.
It’s no surprise, therefore, Drop In Centre volunteers welcomed with open arms a contribution from Angels For The Forgotten – a charity created to support at risk children, youth and families.
The donation is not a token gesture. Toiletries will be made available upon request, guaranteeing the homeless personal care as well as their next meal.
In addition to supplying hygiene products, Ms Skidmore is moving Angels For The Forgotten headquarters from Wagga Wagga to Goulburn.
The organisation already has offices in the Riverina, Southern Highlands, ACT and southeast Queensland.
Ms Skidmore’s foremost goal is to re-establish a food bank in Goulburn.
“One of my visions for Goulburn is to get a food bank back,” she said on Friday.
“When we first come into a community and start a branch, we see a gap that needs filling and then we do all we can to provide that service.
“I know there are people who travel from Canberra to Queanbeyan just to access the food bank.”
In the meantime, community goodwill continues to feed the needy. Trappers Bakery, Aldi and Union Street General Store are donating food, the Lions Club has pledged a piewarmer and the Goulburn Rotary Club volunteered manhours.
Drop In Centre services are available from 7-9am each morning