b'Our fundraising supporters We believe your support makes all things possible.Small sacrifice, Kindness can change lives. When you donate to Uniting, you are supporting people andpowerful impactlocal communities to build a brighter future.This year, congregations across Victoria and Every dollar raised helps us to reach moreTasmania joined our Coffee Cup Challenge. people and provide support when its needed most. From International Coffee Day on October 1st In 2020 and 2021, dealing with the impactuntil Shrove Tuesday in February, people set aside of COVID-19 and natural disasters meansthe cost of a cup of coffee (roughly $4) each week we need your support more than ever. Yourthen donating what they had saved. continued compassion enables us to supportA total of 14 congregations took up the challenge, people in crisis across our communities.raising over $20,000 to support our emergency We are grateful to everyone who has donatedrelief and homelessness services. time and resources to our activities andSt Leonards Uniting Church in Brighton, where events this year.the initiative started, held a special Pancake Day Together, we can make a difference. service. Participants brought their donations and celebrated afterwards with a cup of coffee, receiving a pancake mix to take home. Sharing hope in ourFeeding families in crisisharshest seasonEvery year, our Food For Families programs Rocked by COVID-19 restrictions, storm damageprovide support when people need it most. and floods, we saw many people in the communityDespite pandemic pressures, more than 200 struggling with financial insecurity, mental healthindividuals, families, congregations, schools, challenges and social isolation.businesses and community groups registered for Our Winter Share Appeal raised more thanFood For Families this yearwith 26 tonnes of $560,000 connecting thousands of people withfood and other essential items being donated to the services, food, and essential items they neededhelp people in need.to get back on their feet. Some of our local teamsDue to increasing demand, we have moved Food also conducted a gift-in-kind appeal, asking localFor Families to an all-year-round activity rather communities to Spread the Warmth by droppingthan an annual event. The Epworth Hospital team off blankets and winter woollies for thosehas been one of the first businesses to get on experiencing or at risk of homelessness. board, committing to quarterly drives at its 5 sites in Richmond, East Melbourne, Camberwell, Box Hill and Geelong.60 Uniting Vic.Tas Annual Report 2020-2021'