b'Welcometo Spring.As the cold weather begins to dissipate, we gladly welcome thewarmth and new beginnings of spring.It has been a cold and challenging winter butOn page three you can read about Nicole, one your kind support has helped so many peopleof our amazing op shop volunteers, and how her make it through.experience volunteering with Uniting led herWe are very grateful to have the dedicatedto a new job opportunity.support of our volunteers. Volunteering VictoriaIn other news, Uniting celebrated our five-year and the Victorian Government recognised thisanniversary this July. Many of you may recall commitment when they recently awardedhow in 2017 we merged 25 entities into one Uniting the runners-up prize for the COVID-19to form Uniting in Victoria and Tasmania. Of Resilience Award. course, our story goes further back, and I know This award assessed how we undertookmany of you have kindly supported one of our activities to overcome COVID-19 challenges,founding agencies as well: thank you for sticking while maintaining high quality services andwith us, it means a great deal.implementing strategies to support volunteers This 5-year milestone is an opportunity for us to to be reliant and adapt to the requirements ofcelebrate our staff and volunteers as well as you, public health orders. our kind supporters. Together we are working I am proud to say there were nearly 2,500 activetowards a brighter future for all.volunteers working throughout Uniting at theI hope this newsletter helps you to reflect on height of the pandemic. Even with restrictionshow far Uniting has come and the impact your that is about 85% of our volunteer workforce.support has on peoples lives. What a commitment this demonstrates.I am overwhelmed by the unwavering generosity of our volunteers and supporters during the COVID-19 crisis. In the past year, this commitment has allowed Uniting to: Bronwyn Pike Provide more than 1.3 million hours of service Chief Executive OfficerAnswer over 72,500 calls to Lifeline Find out more about Deliver 80,000 meals to people in need our Leadership Make over 8,000 welfare calls to older peopleProvide 48,100 food parcels and vouchersto people in crisis.2 Supporter Newsletter Spring 2022'