Vinnies unveil re-opened Lismore offices

The St Vincent de Paul Society NSW will re-open its regional office in Lismore nearly two years on from the floods that devastated the local community.

The re-opened regional office will provide a welcoming space for the Society’s St Carthage’s Conference to support people experiencing hardship in the local community, as well as serving as a base of operations for the new Vinnies Van which will deliver meals and support in the local region.

St Vincent de Paul Society NSW members in the Lismore Central Council assisted more than 13,000 people in the last financial year with more than four in five people requesting food support.

“We’re delighted to be able to re-open our regional office in Lismore and having a Vinnies Van service available to meet the growing demand that exists in the community,” said Yolanda Saiz, St Vincent de Paul Society NSW CEO.

“Our previous office in Lismore was located above the Vinnies Shop in Woodlark Street – the flood waters in 2017 went up to two thirds of the shop, and in 2022 the water soaked through the carpet of our offices.

“We know that the recovery effort in Lismore remains an ongoing process, so having a fit-for-purpose office space will be invaluable in supporting people experiencing hardship,” said Ms Saiz.

“In the first half of the current financial year, St Vincent de Paul Society members across the Lismore Central Council have already responded to the equivalent of three quarters of the assistance provided during the entirety of the previous year,” said Paul Burton, St Vincent de Paul Society NSW State President.

“Our members in the area have distributed $1.2 million in financial and material assistance over the past six months.

“The reopening of our Lismore office will enable our members from across the region to increase its impact to those living on the margins. Our membership, in addressing the ever-increasing cost of living pressures, will find the reestablishment of the Lismore Central Council office of immense value and support as they continue their mission to those we reach out to,” said Mr Burton.