Bathurst RSL Club has used their final community donation for 2020 as an opportunity to honour Lifeline Central West for their tireless efforts to offer crisis support and counselling to people in need.
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The RSL Club donated $4000 to Lifeline Central West last week in order to further supplement the organisation's services, which have been in high demand in recent years due to drought, bushfires and, more recently, COVID-19.
"It's another way for us to further assist the community, as we know Lifeline has come to the aid of a staggering number of people across the Central West [and beyond] over the past 12 months," Bathurst RSL Club president Ian Miller said.
The RSL Club also supports Lifeline through 'tap and go' donation machines within the venue, which Mr Miller said patrons continue to make use of a year on from their installation.
"Customers regularly donate via the machines, and it only highlights how well regarded Lifeline is in the Bathurst community," he said.
Lifeline Central West has faced significant challenges throughout 2020 but unlike much of the community, the organisation was responding to dire circumstances before COVID-19 had even begun to dominate the media.
Counsellors from the organisation spent much of the first quarter of the year assisting residents on the NSW South Coast who had been displaced by the bushfires, and have continued to support those recovering from the drought.
Lifeline Central West chief executive officer Stephanie Robinson said the organisation would be unable to provide such services without community support.
"In its 57-year history, Lifeline has never had the volume of calls it is currently receiving, and we've put on some paid shifts to meet demand," Ms Robinson said.
"Christmas is traditionally one of the busiest periods for us taking calls, but we've been on the ball constantly all year, both on the phone and on the ground in communities."
"The RSL has always been a great supporter of us, and we really appreciate their efforts to ensure we can come to the assistance of people in times of crisis."
Lifeline Central West covers a third of regional NSW.