Farm gate cold calling
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In times of hardship, getting the right information to the people who need it can be a challenge. In the Tatura area in the Goulburn Valley where farmers are experiencing drought, volunteers found a method that’s proving to be successful – they're Farm Gate Cold Calling.
Volunteers are doing exactly what the name suggests: in a given area, they’re calling into every farm on every road. With support from a Victorian Government Emergency Volunteer Support Grant, more than 250 homes have been visited by volunteers from a network of groups.
Originally started by the Sacred Heart Church Pastoral Care Group (Tatura) in 2007, a network has since been established between various groups across the district to carry out the visits.
In pairs, volunteers are visiting farms offering support that might include drought assistance information packages, toiletry or food packs. For others, they're simply providing a sympathetic ear.
As one coordinator commented:
It is deeply satisfying to know you may have helped even one person to think in a positive way about their current situation and what the future holds for them. Ordinary people are so resilient. We want them to know someone cares, that's why we visit with practical, straightforward information about the services available in the Goulburn Valley Area, e.g. Greater Shepparton Shire, Centrelink, Family Care, Relationships Australia, Centacare, Drug and Alcohol, Counselling for young people, Beyond Blue etc.
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Posted by Keylon - Thursday, 13 October 2011 16:33