“The Change Makers” at PICAL

With its army of almost 130 active volunteers, PICAL is one of the largest volunteer organisations on Phillip Island.

Each year’s National Volunteers Week provides an opportunity to take time out from PICAL’s busy daily schedule, to recognise and honour the work undertaken by the organisation’s volunteers.

“There are so many volunteer teams providing various services for PICAL at different places and different times of the week, that it is difficult to bring everyone together at one time,” PICAL General Manager Greg Thompson said.

“Our volunteers are involved in everything from our governing committee through to our reception staff, garden teams, various social-connection groups and our adult-learning teams.

“Even our food relief program is divided into four separate teams of pantry staff, supermarket collectors of salvaged leftover food, cooking teams and the ladies from Boomerang Bags who make all our food hampers.

“PICAL’s paid staff also deliver just as many volunteer hours as their paid shifts week after week, because everyone at PICAL shares the vision of a better life for the whole community.”

Greg said that in accord with this year’s Volunteer Week theme of “The Change Makers”, over the past three years PICAL volunteers have fed more than 8000 people with almost 115,000 meals each year.

They have also assisted thousands of people who were often without hope and were at the lowest point in their existence; and literally saved hundreds of lives.

New PICAL President Graeme Turner said PICAL hosts a special get together in Volunteer Week to “honour and thank our volunteers, for the work they do for PICAL and for the assistance they provide to our local community”.

“This work occurs every day of every week, and our volunteers are at the frontline of many very difficult social-wellbeing challenges, yet they go about their work quietly and without any fuss, but with a huge amount of patience and compassion.

 “Our volunteers are the foundation of PICAL and without them we could not exist or serve our local community,” he said.

“While they don’t seek any applause, this is PICAL’s chance for our organisation to publicly recognise the work our volunteers perform, on behalf of the broader community we serve.”

Anyone who is interested to find out more about volunteering at PICAL can call 5952 1131, e-mail reception@pical.org.au or call into PICAL’s new headquarters at 16 Warley Avenue, Cowes.