Winter Appeal: Keeping people safe, warm and treated with dignity
Winter is often the hardest time for people without safe housing. Cold nights, wet weather and nowhere to shower or wash clothes can quickly turn a tough situation into a crisis — affecting people’s health, safety and sense of dignity.
This winter, we’re asking our community to support the Jemmeson Street Drop‑In Centre, a small but vital place in Lakes Entrance where people can find warmth, respect and practical support.
The Drop‑In Centre is a safe, welcoming space where people can take a hot shower, wash their clothes, speak with trained staff, and feel warm and supported, sometimes for the first time in days.
The Drop‑In Centre does not receive direct government funding. It continues through winter only because local people choose to support it.
Your support helps restore dignity and kindness when they are needed most
Housing insecurity affects more people in East Gippsland than many realise. When the weather turns cold, the need for safe, warm places grows quickly — especially for people already doing it tough.
Through the Jemmeson Street Drop‑In Centre, people can:
- Take a hot shower and warm up
- Wash and dry clothes and bedding
- Get connected to health and housing support
- Feel respected, safe and treated like a person
Often, these basic supports are the difference between coping and crisis.
How your support shows up, right here, this winter
Every donation goes toward the simple, everyday things that keep the Drop‑In Centre welcoming through winter — warmth, supplies, and a safe place to pause and regroup.
$10 = Clean clothes and basic essentials
Provides laundry powder, toiletries and cleaning supplies so people can wash, freshen up and head back out feeling a bit more like themselves.
$50 = Warmth on a cold day
Provides laundry powder, toiletries and cleaning supplies so people can wash, freshen up and head back out feeling a bit more like themselves.
$100 = Keeping the doors open
Helps cover the costs that keep the Drop‑In Centre welcoming, warm and safely staffed for the day.
Support the Drop‑In Centre this winter
If you can, please consider making a donation today to help keep this local, community‑run service open through winter.
Tap image below to donate securely at:
Prefer to donate another way? You can download our Donation Form, or call us on (03) 5155 8300 and ask for Marnie Graham.
Drop-In Centre neighbours and supporters Kath Grandy, Sue Grundy, Aaron Smith, Frank Smith, Janet Harris, Dee Harry and GLCH chief executive officer Anne-Maree Kaser.
Donations of $2 or more are tax deductible.
All donations are acknowledged in writing, and receipts are provided.