Coast Community Centre
The Donnison Street Restaurant which commenced in September 2002, has grown and developed into what is now a truly remarkable Community Centre operating in Gosford's CBD. The Centre offers a wide range of services to:
>> tackle the structural drivers of homelessness,
>> 'turn off the tap' and prevent homelessness by assisting people to maintain their tenancies, and
>> Support chronically homeless men, women and youth.
The core of the Community Centre is the Restaurant, which serves over 1,100 free meals every week. It is one of the most innovative and successful examples of partnerships between numerous organisations, churches, community groups and over 200 volunteers who combine together to support the most disadvantaged in our community.
The Restaurant receives no Government funding and operates thanks mainly to the wonderful volunteer workforce and with the generous support of local businesses such as Sanitarium, Mars Food, Aldi and Woolworths who donate food on a regular basis.
At present the Community Centre operates out of premises provided by the Central Coast Leagues Club at 97 Donnison Street Gosford. To establish the Community Centre on a permanent basis, Coast Shelter's Board of Directors resolved to relocate it to 346 Mann Street Gosford.
With the assistance of Gosford City Council, Coast Shelter has acquired the building for the new Coast Community Centre. This building requires major refurbishment and when complete, will provide a greater range of services including the Central Coast Homeless Family Brokerage Service, additional offices and a Community Men's Shed which is already in operation.
The entire project is worth $2.2 million and with the assistance of Gosford City Council, the State Government and corporate support, Coast Shelter has raised $1.3million so far. For the Coast Community Centre to become a reality, we still need to raise an additional $890,000 to complete the project.
If you can provide any assistance to this project, please phone Laurie Maher on 4325 3540 or simply make a donation online.
