Vulnerable people on the Central Coast were the winners when Gosford Community Corrections officers delivered a load of food staples to Coast Shelter in Gosford on October 26.
Gosford Community Corrections manager, Michelle Velebit, said her team filled a car boot with bags and boxes of food as they worked together to give back to the community.
“We’re donating supplies to a fabulous organisation which supports people experiencing homelessness or who are disadvantaged,” Velebit said.
“We hope our contribution will provide some relief and sustenance to people in our local community when they need it most.”
Gosford Community Corrections Administration Officer, Kieran White, said the team ran a grocery collection and raised funds through a trivia night on Microsoft Teams.
“We wanted something where all staff could contribute without stretching their budgets; a can of baked beans doesn’t cost much but is significant to someone in need,” he said.
Coast Shelter uses donated products in its community kitchen and distributes goods to people who are homeless, at risk of homelessness, or experiencing domestic and family violence.
“We’re thankful to the Community Corrections staff whose efforts make a difference for people doing it tough in our community,” Coast Shelter Program Manager, Charles Boyton, said.
The initiative was part of Hunter Community Corrections Offices Charity drive which ran throughout October.
Corrective Services NSW Acting Commissioner, Kevin Corcoran, said he was proud to have a workforce committed to the safety of NSW and dedicated to seeing their communities thrive.
“They have their fingers to the pulse of their areas, whether they’re working in our correctional centres or helping offenders reintegrate into society,” he said.
A division of Corrective Services NSW, Community Corrections is responsible for the management of offenders on community-based sentences including intensive correction orders, community corrections orders, with supervision and/or community service work conditions and conditional release orders with supervision conditions.
Community Corrections Officers develop individual case plans for offenders based on the risk and consequences of reoffending while assisting their successful integration back into society.
Officers are also responsible for providing advice to courts and releasing authorities to inform decision making regarding sentencing, release to parole, and response to breach of orders.
Source:
Media release, Oct 26
Gosford Community Corrections