Since 2002 Sanitarium has responded to the needs of people on the Central Coast of New South Wales by providing donations of food to the Donnison Street Community Centre and assisting with local fundraising events. Sanitarium sponsors four of Coast Shelter’s Wyong Outreach Program houses, which provide immediate emergency accommodation for families thereby allowing them to stay near support networks as opposed to living in a refuge 30 kilometres away.
Sanitarium continues to provide $18,000 annually to Coast Shelter’s ’Sanitarium House’ program where families live for a short period of time to ‘get on their feet’. Recently a young mum and child who fled from domestic violence arrived into the care of one of Coast Shelter’s “Sanitarium Houses”. After a short time they were prioritised into affordable and permanent community housing. The mother found regular work in a nursing home, and her son settled into a good school. There are four Sanitarium Houses catering for 24 families representing up to 100 people each year.
“Of the 3,000 requests for assistance each year there are hundreds of good outcomes like this that result from Sanitarium’s support of Coast Shelter. The Sanitarium House model has been adopted nationally by other community-based organisations and we could not have generated such outstanding results without the visionary support of Sanitarium” says Warren Price, Fundraising Director for Coast Shelter.
Connecting with the Community
As a result of the global financial crisis, Coast Shelter identified the need to link the new homeless and financially disadvantaged with community services and support, by holding a Connect Day. 
Sanitarium supported this initiative by donating food to share with the people who participated on the day. Organisers of the day reported that it was the heartfelt comments made by guests and the gratitude they felt when assisted that made the day a great success.
In addition to learning about support offered by CentreLink, Smith Family, Housing NSW and Salvation Army immediate support was also available. One guest said, “This is great. I’ve got a job interview next week and now I’ve got new shoes for it.” Another guest was able to gain emergency accommodation and access much needed support services. A young mother was overwhelmed with the amount of clothing available and her children loved all the toys on offer - gladly taking their favourites home with them.
How you can help?
Coast Shelter is a not-for-profit charity based organisation on the Central Coast of New South Wales which works innovatively to meet the needs of the homeless and disadvantaged within the community through advocacy and the provision of direct services.
Coast Shelter provides emergency accommodation to approximately 110 homeless men, women and children each night and also coordinates the provision of over 200 meals each day at the Donnison Street Community Centre which is 75,000 meals per year,
Sanitarium provides food donations and Adventist churches rotate every Sunday to provide the evening meal.
You can help by making a donation, becoming a member, or volunteering. To see how visit www.coastshelter.org.au for more information.