ST VINCENT De Paul will be able to deliver quicker services in Logan after securing $1654 from Logan City Council.
The grant funded two iPad packages as part of Vinnies’ Enabling the Information Age program.
Vinnies South Coast executive officer Chris Martin expected the support to change the way services were delivered to people in need.
“It will speed everything up by about a week,” he said.
“At the moment everything was being done by hand, volunteers would come out and fax things and then it would get to the depot, this way we hit send (on the iPad) and it goes directly to the depot.
“It will speed things up dramatically.”
The iPads are also expected to give volunteers the tools they need to more efficiently help clients with paying bills, lodging online forms and applications and giving members quicker access to data while on home visits.
Logan City Council acting mayor Cherie Dalley said the Vinnies grant was an example of promoting innovative projects across the area.
“Improving digital capabilities of Vinnies volunteers will allow them to better deliver their services across Logan,” Cr Dalley said.
Mr Martin said the holiday season was a time where demand for charity services was high.
“Christmas isn’t always about celebrating, it’s also about remembering people suffering hardship in our community,” he said.
“We are about giving a hand up in the community, we are here 24/7 because the time of Christmas is a time of need.
“Without us in the community people wouldn’t have access to money, food, furniture and clothing so we play a huge part.”
Logan residents have also been warned to not dump unwanted things at Vinnies stores and charity bins.
Mr Martin said the money used to dispose of rubbish could otherwise be spent delivering services to people in need.
“People think it is okay to dump rubbish on us, they often don’t want to go to the tip so they will find one of our stores,” he said.
“We have regulations on things we can sell, if it is not sell-able than we can not take it.
“There is dignity in what we sell and to what we give away. If you wouldn’t give it to your mother than we can’t take it.”
Examples of things not suitable include damaged bed mattresses and torn or stained clothes.
Vinnies accepts quality clean and undamaged clothes, shoes, toys, homeware, furniture, bed mattresses, books, games, CDs, DVDs, blankets, linen and cushions.
For information phone 1800 Vinnies.
