Fr Bob Maguire Foundation

No charity could function, perhaps even survive without the help of volunteers. We are truly blessed with our volunteers who are giving us so much of their time, expertise and energies.

We will mention a few of those whose help enables us to keep on going - but they are only a few… We need you too to help us in any way you can. If you live in the area, you could help us with the lunches, barbecues or with help on the food van or just driving the Hopemobile around town to engage people.

If you live far you can still help us, not only with funds, but with all kinds other expertise, like fundraising, writing, contributing to our IT efforts (MySpace, YouTube, Blogging, Podcasting) or by just spreading our message: to help the needy.

Please see a few words below on the principles of volunteering to allay any doubt that you too can help us:

• Volunteering benefits the community and the volunteer
• Volunteer work is unpaid
• Volunteering is always a matter of choice
• Volunteering is not compulsorily undertaken to receive pensions or government allowances.
• Volunteering is a legitimate way in which citizens can participate in the activities of their community
• Volunteering is a vehicle for individuals or groups to address human, environmental and social needs
• Volunteering is an activity performed in the not-for-profit sector only
• Volunteering is not a substitute for paid work
• Volunteers do not replace paid workers nor constitute a threat to the job security of paid workers
• Volunteering respects the rights, dignity and culture of others.
• Volunteering promotes human rights and equality.

About some of our volunteers -

Maureen Johnson been working at the House, looking after our clients - being a friend to our clients! - for more than a decade. She is an inspiration to all our volunteers who come in five days a week, bringing food, then cooking for the homeless and destitute in our community.

Henri Ser is looking after the Food Van. He also sources the food, sources funds, inspiring his volunteers and rain or shine, heat or cold, he takes out the Van two or three times a week. He is also a friend to people on the street - please read his Street Reports to see his work in detail.

Kenz Farag is also been working for the Foundation - from before its inception. All the logos and graphic design (including the Annual Report) and even the Hopemobile’s decals are his work.

We must also mention the people who are making our presence all over cyberspace possible: Michael Leone who looks after and administers the Father Bob’s Blog and this website, David Vlasic of Efront for creating the website, Con Mitropoulos of Anem Design, Igor Siemienowicz who produced our MySpace and Second Life presence, Michaela Walsh who is our podcast ’supremo’, Cameron Reilly for his Podcast Network and podcasting - to mention only a few to whom we owe so much.

Please join us and them - drop us a line or send us an email if you can help. As our motto says: ‘Help us to help them!’