Mount Gambier’s Barry Maney Group has dug deep, contributing almost $20,000 to help those doing it tough in our region.
The group has donated $19,720 to ac.care to cover the cost of a year’s rent for a house for the vulnerable, providing a roof over the heads of those in need.
The donation was made possible by the CMV Group Staff Foundation, funded by staff making contributions out of their pay matched dollar for dollar by the company.
Jason Peake and John Richter are Barry Maney Group representatives for the CMV Group Staff Foundation and as such make charitable submissions quarterly throughout the South East.
The latest figures by ac.care report there are approximately 15 single people and five families homeless in Mount Gambier.
Barry Maney Group general manager Shannon Wilson said while they did not know how much homelessness effects their employees, they know it impacts everyone.
“We have tried to keep the legacy of Barry Maney, so we are still the Barry Maney Group even though our ownership has changed,” he said.
“It was important to us to help the community and by doing it this way, we get to drive it from our employees.
“We have had a long association with ac.care for more than 10 years, originally initiated and driven by our current car dealer principal Barry Stafford.”
The Barry Maney Group is no stranger to helping the organisation, also paying the first year’s rent for another of ac.care’s properties, a two-bedroom unit, funded through one of their homeless luncheon fundraisers four years ago.
The business has also previously donated second-hand cars to ac.care who have distributed them to people in need.
The Barry Maney Group also donated a large amount of goods to The SE Voice winter warmth community campaign including clothing, crockery, cleaning products and additional bedding, which was generously donated by Big W Mount Gambier.
The region’s ac.care Homelessness Service Manager Trish Spark said the addition of a new house would make a huge difference to many families.
“Instead of young children sleeping in a car or a tent somewhere they will be able to come here, be warm, safe, have a bed and somewhere to run around,” she said.
“A lot of people will be able to use this facility and it will mean so much to them.
“Without this generosity we would not have this property and we would still have families sleeping in tents, which this is really going to help reduce.”
