Need help at Christmas?

[Diesal]

Or maybe you know someone who does? Please don't forget that there is support available, and pass this information on where needed...

ALCOHOL AND DRUG INFORMATION SERVICE - 9442 5000
Statewide 24 hour free confidential telephone service providing information, counselling and referral for anyone affected by drug and alcohol use.

COMMONWEALTH CARER RESPITE AND CARELINK CENTRES- 1800 052 222 *Nation wide*
Provide information on community and health services and crises/short term respite for carers.

CRISIS CARE - 9223 1111
24 hour statewide crisis response services for families and individuals to assist them with crisis. Ensuring the safety of men, women and children experiencing domestic violence.

FAMILY HELPLINE (24/7 service) - 9223 1100
The Family Helpline is a free confidential telephone counselling and information service for families with relationship difficulties. Can be accessed through the Telephone Interpreter Service.

FATHER BRIAN'S CRISIS CARE CENTRE - 9481 4050
Responds to all manner of crisis situations as appropriate. Free confidential counselling available to all.

KIDS HELP LINE - 1800 55 1800 or admin@kidshelp.com.au
Children can connect to a Kids Help Line counsellor via telephone, email or web.

LIFELINE - 13 11 14
Food parcels, counselling, 24 hour telephone counselling, Charity Link - christmas and blanket appeal, Living Works - suicide intervention training.

MEN’S DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HELPLINE - 9223 1199
Helpline for men identifying themselves as perpetrators of domestic violence or who see themselves at risk of perpetrating violence against their partner.

MENTAL HEALTH EMERGENCY RESPONSE LINE (MHERL) - 1300 555 788
Provides a statewide mental health crisis information and advisory telephone service. The team can help people in the community who are suffering from a mental illness or severe psychological distress requiring urgent professional assessment and treatment.

PARENT DRUG INFORMATION SERVICE - 9442 5050
Statewide 24 hour free confidential telephone service providing information, counselling and referral to parents affected by drug and alcohol use.

SALVATION ARMY – CARE LINE
9442 5777: 24hr Counselling Line
9442 5750: 24hr Suicide Line
1800 065 892: A/hrs accommodation line

THE SAMARITANS INC.
9381 5725 - Admin
9381 5555 - Emergency
1800 198 313 - Freecall
To be immediately available for people who are despairing or suicidal.

ST VINCENT DE PAUL'S - 1300 794 054
Food vouchers, hampers and/or gifts available, no eligibility criteria or cut off date.
Call the call centre between 9am:1pm M-F, they will put the caller through to their nearest centre. Goods vary between centres and client must collect from nearest centre.

WESLEY MISSION
1300 663 298 - Services Information Line
9220 1200 - Tranby (Homeless Support)
9325 2400 - Credit Care – Emergency relief, includes financial & food
Provides emergency relief and crisis services.

WOMEN’S DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HELPLINE
9223 1188
1800 007 339 (Toll Free STD)
The Women's Domestic Violence Helpline provides free 24 hour telephone support and counselling for women experiencing family and domestic violence. The helpline can help if you want to find refuge or a safe place to stay.
Crisis Services

Getting By...Getting Ahead: A guide to concessions and other ways of keeping costs down - www.perth.wa.gov.au/documentdb/2085

Mission Australia's 35th Annual Christmas Lunch in the Park
On Christmas Day, Mission Australia - along with the help of over 400 volunteers - will deliver our 35th annual Christmas Lunch in the Park event for those in our community seeking companionship and a place to celebrate the festive season. Each guest will receive a traditional Christmas lunch, a gift from Santa, entertainment and great company!

Where: Wellington Square Park, East Perth
When: Saturday, 25 December 2010
Time: 11:30am to 2:30pm
Cost: Free!
RSVP: None required, just turn up on the day!

[Diesal]

If you are the position to spread a lil’ goodwill, don’t forget…..

Operation Santa (Uniting Care West)
There are many people in our community who struggle through the festive season, for reasons including financial difficulties, mental illness, homelessness, family turmoil and an absence of loved ones.

Visit your nearest Target or Target Country store and spot the large red Operation Santa Christmas tree, take a gift tag from beside the tree and purchase a gift for someone in need. Attach the tag to your present and place the gift underneath the tree. Alternatively, you can purchase an Operation Santa gift card from the checkout at Target. Stuck for Operation Santa gift ideas? Some of the gifts most needed are: clothing, games, sunglasses, and sporting gear. (Note: Please try to avoid donating toys that require batteries as often the families that receive these cannot afford to replace them).

Gifts are collected by Uniting Care representatives and distributed to local people in need in time for Christmas morning. Gift recipients include disadvantaged children, homeless teenagers and families in crisis.

Donate online Uniting Care West or call 1300 663 298

Santa Stocking Appeal (Salvo’s)
The Santa Stocking Appeal commences on 29 November and runs until Christmas Eve. Christmas items on the Appeal Wish List include tinned food such as ham, softdrink, fruit and pudding as well as chocolate, bon-bons, mince pies and mixed nuts. There are also a number of essential items requested including baby food/formula, toilet paper, towels, soap and deodorant. To ensure no children are forgotten this Christmas, toys are also on the wish list. Books, dolls, trucks, board games, puzzles and baby-toys are requested to provide children with a gift on Christmas day.

The Salvation Army expects to assist more than 13,000 people over the Christmas period, who are battling to celebrate even a modest Christmas with family and friends. Some people seeking assistance are employed but struggle to keep up with rising costs.

All donations will go to The Salvation Army's two largest Community Support Centres located in Balga and Northbridge. These centres distribute Christmas food hampers, toys and essentials to individuals and families in need.

Donations can be dropped into the Santa Stocking, located under the Christmas Tree in Centre Court at Karrinyup Shopping Centre.

[Sventek]

Nice reminder. Thanks for posting for everyone.

[euphoric]

good one Jo!

[BERT]

PARENT DRUG INFORMATION SERVICE

I called this one and they hung up on me when I asked for their recommendation on what drug was best for me as a parent ????

Bert

[Phildo]

PARENT DRUG INFORMATION SERVICE

I called this one and they hung up on me when I asked for their recommendation on what drug was best for me as a parent ????

Bert

Ha ha ha. Laughed for a while at this one.

CRISIS CARE - 9223 1111
24 hour statewide crisis response services for families and individuals to assist them with crisis. Ensuring the safety of men, women and children experiencing domestic violence.

These people will also organise for a taxi to pick up people under certain circumstances (ie victims of domestic violence, runaway kids, etc) and take them to a suitable place (ie womens refuge, foster home, etc). Crisis Care pays the taxi fare (by account). I do these jobs often.

[D'Artagnan]

[Diesal]

Thanks guys Forgot to mention...please post up any other services you have come across...

Ha ha ha. Laughed for a while at this one.
These people will also organise for a taxi to pick up people under certain circumstances (ie victims of domestic violence, runaway kids, etc) and take them to a suitable place (ie womens refuge, foster home, etc). Crisis Care pays the taxi fare (by account). I do these jobs often.

That's awesome! Thanks Phildo

PARENT DRUG INFORMATION SERVICE

I called this one and they hung up on me when I asked for their recommendation on what drug was best for me as a parent ????

Bert

You're a very norti boy

I even remembered Father Brians' this time too D'Art

[Phildo]

ALCOHOL AND DRUG INFORMATION SERVICE - 9442 5000
...providing information... for anyone affected by drug and alcohol use.

Actually, I could use this one. Can they give advice on how to beat the living shit out of a drunk/stoned taxi passenger in such a way that I don't have any legal consequences? Or the location of a good cliff that I can throw people off? If so, then they'll be getting regular calls from me. We'll be on a first name basis within hours.

[Phildo]

These people will also organise for a taxi to pick up people under certain circumstances (ie victims of domestic violence, runaway kids, etc) and take them to a suitable place (ie womens refuge, foster home, etc). Crisis Care pays the taxi fare (by account). I do these jobs often.

That's awesome! Thanks Phildo

For an example, see: Nightshifts

Early this year Deb had a job where she had to go to Morley and collect a mother and young daughter, take them both down to Warnbro train station, collect her runaway teenage daughter and take them all back home to Morley again. Security guards were waiting with the teenage girl at the train station.

I had one back in April where I had to pick up a 14 year old boy from a street corner in Doubleview at 12:30am on a Sunday night. I actually got into trouble for that one. There was also a 13 year old friend of his with him, and I took them both back to the foster home. The rules on these jobs are very strict - we are ONLY allowed to take the person(s) nominated in the job details, and the 13yr old wasn't included.

It was a crap situation, and there was no way that I could leave a 13 yr old kid on the side of the road on his own at that time of night, so took him as well. Crisis Care later queried this with Swan but my explanation of the situation got me off the hook.

There were the two 15 year old girls late last year that I had to go find in Ellenbrook late at night (ie after midnight). They had run away from the foster home where they were staying and had to be relocated. They were even in their pajamas. One of them left her mobile phone in the car but after a couple of phone calls I was given permission to take it back to the home (no charge for that bit).

These are just a few examples. This stuff is happening on a regular basis late at night. I have written about some of them on my taxi blog web site - http://www.cabloid.com.au Have a look at the entry about Josh.

Please excuse the thread whoring, but at least this is getting bumped regularly and will give people something to think about.

[busa_bloke]

Well done posting this.

[BERT]

Thanks guys You're a very norti boy

I kid of course, please try not to take me seriously ........................ ever. It's how I deal with stuff.
Good idea to post, it can be a very shitty time of year for a lot of people.

Bert

[JenJam]

I hope I don't put a downer on people's good vibes, it's not my intention, I love that so many here are about giving back to the less fortunate

A little piece of information that is not made public however (and I think it should be, merely so that people can make an INFORMED decision) is regarding the Kmart Wishing Tree. The vast majority of the gifts donated are actually given (free of charge) to WA Prisoners to give to their children.

Me, I don't have (much of) a problem with it, I look at it that it's the CHILD who is recieving the joy of the gift, and it's not his/her fault their parent is in jail. However, I know many people who disagree and are outraged that someone who maybe broke into THEIR home, or stole THEIR bike is recieving their kind donation.

Like I say, I just believe it's important for people to have all of the information available to them in order to make up their own minds. Me, I donate every year - always playdoh, because playdoh is FREAKING AWESOME, DUDE!!

[Diesal]

Will have a look at your blog tonight Phildo Very relevant btw.

I kid of course, please try not to take me seriously ........................ ever. It's how I deal with stuff.
Good idea to post, it can be a very shitty time of year for a lot of people.
Bert

I know, just had some weird monty python thing happening today - it had to be said

I hope I don't put a downer on people's good vibes, it's not my intention, I love that so many here are about giving back to the less fortunate

A little piece of information that is not made public however (and I think it should be, merely so that people can make an INFORMED decision) is regarding the Kmart Wishing Tree. The vast majority of the gifts donated are actually given (free of charge) to WA Prisoners to give to their children.

Me, I don't have (much of) a problem with it, I look at it that it's the CHILD who is recieving the joy of the gift, and it's not his/her fault their parent is in jail. However, I know many people who disagree and are outraged that someone who maybe broke into THEIR home, or stole THEIR bike is recieving their kind donation.

Like I say, I just believe it's important for people to have all of the information available to them in order to make up their own minds. Me, I donate every year - always playdoh, because playdoh is FREAKING AWESOME, DUDE!!

I wasn't aware of that, how did you come across this info? Regardless, if it is true, something to take from that is that, as you mentioned, its for the kids, not the 'thieves.' Kids with their role models locked up? Away from their loved ones at chrissy time? Maybe receiving less pressies due to this? Even more reason to donate imo

[JenJam]

I wasn't aware of that, how did you come across this info?

I work in the system, only recently found out myself. Like I said, it doesn't stop me from giving either, but as someone who's heavily involved in various charities, I always feel it's important for people to have all the facts about where their donations go so they can make an informed decision. Otherwise many people feel gypped when they found out after the fact, and it discourages them from ever donating to anything again. At least, that's been my experience, which I think is kinda sad :'(

[Diesal]

Bump....