VOLUNTEERS are urgently needed to help meet demand at a Monash support service for the elderly and disabled.
Do Care’s Monash area co-ordinator Petra Westphal said the service was in desperate need of more volunteers to meet a growing demand, particularly in Oakleigh.
She said the service had about 50 volunteers.
“But we need at least 26 more to cater for people on our waiting list,” she said.
“There never seems to be an end to the amount of people needing support … it’s an ongoing need and there seems to be a growing number of referrals coming to the service.”
Mrs Westphal said demand was especially high in the Oakleigh area, adding: “We don’t have a lot of volunteers in Oakleigh even though we do have many clients in that area.”
Mrs Westphal said that in previous years, the service had attracted up to 70 volunteers, but that numbers had dwindled.
“There is a lot of competition for volunteers,” she said.
Volunteers for Do Care, a service of Wesley Central Mission, provide companionship and support to older people and people with a disability who are socially isolated. Training and support is offered.
Volunteers visit clients weekly for a chat or go out for a drive and may also be involved in running group activities.
If you want to help call 97625211.
