We're all in this together!

In 2008 The Salvation Army will provide assistance to over one million Australians - but caring for Australians in need isn't just the responsibility of a select few. If we ever want to live in a country that is free from poverty, addiction and abuse, we will all have to do our part.

This year, we'd once again like to invite you to help us make a difference by supporting our Red Shield Appeal. Let's work together to make Australia a better place.

The Red Shield Appeal is The Salvation Army's major annual fundraising drive to help finance our vast network of social and community services. The national fundraising target for 2008 is $68 million.

Officially commencing in April and concluding at the end of June, the Appeal involves three main components:

• Direct mail campaign - Around half of all Red Shield Appeal funds raised are given in response to The Salvation Army's direct mail campaign.
• Business appeal - The Salvation Army has always had outstanding support from generous business leaders right across Australia.
• National Doorknock Appeal - Involving around 100,000 volunteer collectors, the Red Shield Appeal Doorknock provides opportunity for people to give at the door in support of The Salvation Army's good work. The doorknock takes place on the last weekend in May each year.

The first Red Shield Appeal Doorknock was held in 1965 in response to concern about the need for funds to meet the ever-increasing demand on Salvation Army social services.

While the appeal has been expanded and refined enormously since that time, demand upon Salvation Army services continues to increase. Funds raised through the Red Shield Appeal each year are needed more than ever if the Salvos are to maintain their services in the local community.

Because we're well aware that our valued donors work hard for their money, we ensure that we work just as hard to make sure that every donation is used effectively. The Salvation Army's administration costs are kept to a minimum, with one of the most efficient rates of any charity.

Credit card donations can be made using our secure online donation form or by calling 13 SALVOS (13 72 58). For information on other ways to donate, please click here.

Online registrations for volunteer doorknock collectors have now closed for 2008!

Journalists and other interested parties should visit our Media Centre to view the latest Red Shield Appeal media releases.

Download Red Shield Appeal promo clip featuring Guy Sebastian (2:06 wmv 7mb)

Ella's story

Twenty-year-old Ella is one of the many young people helped through The Salvation Army Oasis Youth Support Network to find their potential. Told to leave home when she was just 16, Ella lived on the streets and slept on trains before she came to Oasis with a crystal methamphetamine addiction.

Ella was helped into rehabilitation and stable accommodation, and because she has a passion for music and skating, she became involved in Oasis's Streetradio.net, which allows disadvantaged young people to gain skills in radio production.

Ella now hosts a weekly Oasis skateboarding and music program, has completed a Foxtel media course and a three-month paid stint at a commercial radio station in Sydney, and was recently offered a full-time job in commercial broadcasting.

Neill's story

Neill was first taken into care aged 10, already – incredibly – with a substantial alcohol problem and the accompanying negative behaviours. “I was considered a pest to society,” he says.

As a broken young teenager at a boys home in WA, Neill was made to polish shoes in the hundreds as punishment for bad behaviour. “I did shoe shining as a punishment, 360 pairs every Sunday. I hated it,” says Neill.

The system soon helped ensure Neill became more than a young ‘pest’. Not only was he exposed in boys homes to children with far more serious problems than he, but Neill became the victim of repeated, horrific sexual abuse.

On one occasion Neill lashed out and seriously attacked the perpetrator. He was moved to a maximum security juvenile detention centre, the judge telling him he was “a waste of a person” who would “never amount to anything.” A school report supported this verdict with the words: “This kid won’t make it to (the age of) 40.” His life as a young adult was a messy mixture of drugs, violence, trouble with the law and broken relationships.

When Neill arrived at The Salvation Army Flagstaff crisis centre in Melbourne, he looked like a wild man. With hair well below his waist, and a beard to his stomach, he hadn’t showered in months. He had been drinking methylated spirits, sleeping on the streets or in a paddock surrounded by cows, and had reached the point where even his own children were scared of him.   

At Flagstaff, Neill was given food, clean clothes, a bed and, most importantly, access to a network of support services that would help him on the road to change. “Monday morning I found myself at an AA [Alcoholics Anonymous] meeting held at a Salvation Army church,” says Neill. “That’s where my life turned around.”

Today, cheerful and clean-shaven, Neill is seeing a dream fulfilled running his own shoe shine business at the “Paris end” of Melbourne’s Collins Street, named “Shiny Shoes Shoe Shine” after his childhood nickname “Shiny Shoes”.

He says, “I never thought, when I walked into The Salvation Army that day, that four years later this is where I’d be.

“Now, because I’m sober, I’m able to spend every weekend with my children, and my ex-wife is on good terms too. I run AA meetings to help others.

“Today I have hope because the Salvos helped and said things could be better.”

"The Salvation Army’s services are utterly remarkable. This is an organisation that rolls its sleeves up and gets on with the job. You can only admire that. The Salvos provide everything from programs to assist recovering alcoholics, children’s and adolescent services, centres to help women in crisis and grief counselling programs. It’s an organisation that makes such a huge difference to people’s lives. The theme, ‘We’re all in this together’ is such an important message. We owe it to people less fortunate than ourselves to give a hand. Maybe one day you may need the Salvos’ help.”
General Peter Cosgrove

"The Salvos are remarkable because they do everything they can when people turn to them… irrespective of their background. It’s vital to deal with problems at an early stage. This can make all the difference. The truth is that in many ways the real level of the problem is hidden from society. People often don’t want others to realise they are in deep trouble… and it’s the Salvos they turn to. Please help The Salvos help others and donate to the Red Shield Appeal.”
Don Burke

"I often see the Salvation Army in my local area and it's important to donate to this vital cause. Please consider doing something more for the less fortunate. There's such a big hidden need out there. The Salvation Army is able to transform lives through the work that it does in communities and on the street. The Salvos want to do more and by supporting Red Shield you can help them."
Iva Davies

"I've supported the Red Shield Appeal for a number of years. Many families are struggling with day-to-day existence.  Hundreds of thousands of Australians are in need.  Often the problems can be hidden.  It could easily be somebody just down the street from you with a problem.  If you can, make a donation to the Red Shield Appeal in 2008.  Help the Salvos help those who need a hand.”
David Boon

“The range of support the Salvos offer is extensive and wide-ranging.  Donations to the 2008 Red Shield Appeal will assist in funding the numerous programs they offer such as centres for women, childcare, adolescent services, anger management programs, crisis counselling and accommodation, domestic violence services, drug and alcohol programs and emergency services.  Every donation helps, no matter how small … so please give what you can to help the Salvos continue their vital work.”
Deborah Hutton

"One person really can make the world of difference with one donation. Every single donation helps. The Salvos rebuild people. Some people who come to their door are suicidal. The Salvos turn people lives around. Victims of violence find a shelter. People in crisis get a chance to start again. That's why people should dig deep."
Andrew Gaze

"The gap between the have's and have not's is getting bigger and bigger - especially with the increasing interest rates, petrol prices and drought. I'm behind The Salvation Army's Red Shield Appeal because there's so much we can all do to assist those less fortunate that ourselves. By donating to the appeal, we're helping the Salvos help over 1 million Australians each year with services like homeless shelters, drug and alcohol programs and employment services. Please dig deep this year."
Michael Klim

"Whenever there's a need - the Salvos are there; To help a family, a community, the nation. The Salvation Army volunteers are extraordinary people, help them keep giving. Give to the Red Shield Appeal"
Di Morrisey