Community Involvement

St Vincent De Paul - Soup Van

Moores Legal is involved in the Matthew Talbot Soup Van (Fitzroy), run by St Vincent de Paul, providing 21 volunteers on a rotational basis to support the soup van every Sunday night.  The van serves food to homeless people and people in boarding houses in inner Melbourne.

Last financial year the Fitzroy vans provided (over 7 nights):  145,800 meals, 399 people were asisted per night; and 250 people volunteered their time.

Some figures to get you thinking:

Counting the Homeless, 2006 (which includes data from the 2006 Census and other sources) showed:

• 105,00 homeless people
• 67% adults over 18 years of age
• 12% under the age of 12 years
• 21% young people between 12 ad 18 years
• 44% of homeless people were female
• 55% were single (57,182)
• 20% were couples without accompanying children (20,704)
• 26% were families (26,790 people or 7,483 families)

Most homeless people were sheltered somewhere on Census night, with 45% staying temporarily with friends or relatives, 21% staying in boarding houses and 19% staying in supported accommodation (such as hostels for the homeless, night shelters and refuges).

For more information see the St Vincent de Paul website.

Habitat for Humanity - Volunteers Day

Habitat for Humanity is a not for profit Christian based ministry seeking to make simple, safe, decent and affordable housing available to families in need.

Habitat for Humanity runs a corporate program known as 'Brush With Kindness' which utilizes the assistance of volunteers for projects for communities in need. 

We were invited to take part in a project in Glenburn, a bushfire affected area some 90 minutes from Melbourne.  Moores Legal volunteers did some site work for an elderly couple who are re-establishing their farm and a place to live after the bushfires last year. 

Habitat have arranged for a house on the property to be restumped and power to be connected. A huge renovation job has taken place with many of the old weatherboards being replaced and a number of holes filled.  It needed to be lined and fitted out with kitchen, bathroom, etc inside and a deck structure put around the house.  Our Moores team was able to complete the last coat of paint in the interior and painted a large portion of the exterior as well.  It is hoped that once a plumber is brought in, the elderly couple will be able to move in to the house before winter sets in. 

This initiative presented Moores with an opportunity to give to the community as part of our commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility.

For those of us who participated, it was a rare opportunity to help a community and make a significant difference in someone else's life.  All came away grateful for the experience and with some painting skills!    To see some of the fun had on the day, click here 1 2 3 .

To find out more about Habitat for Humanity and the work that they do click here.