Recently Sonshine was named as a finalist in the annual Christian Media and Arts Excellence in Media Awards, competing against Christian media organisations from right across Australia and New Zealand. The awards presentation was held on the Gold Coast last week, and Sonshine won the Community Impact category for our Heart for the Homeless appeal.
Heart for the Homeless has been running for six years now, and has captured the hearts and minds of Sonshine’s listeners, providing an outlet for them to not only learn more about the reality of life for those living rough on Perth’s streets, but to also make a tangible difference by donating items to help those experiencing homelessness first hand.
Sonshine’s Heart For The Homeless began as a small scale promotion to assist those sleeping rough in our community during the winter months. But over its six year lifespan it has grown to the point of almost becoming larger than the station can handle on its own. With more schools, churches and businesses expressing a desire to be involved each and every year, and a growing engagement with the homelessness services providers the appeal supports, it has become one of our city’s largest and most successful community appeals, working to address the ever-growing homelessness issue.
Sonshine CEO Bevan Jones says, as a community media organization, Sonshine has a real desire to help. “At Sonshine’s heart, we believe in extending warmth and compassion to those who need it most. During Heart For The Homeless we ask our generous community to get together and make a significant impact on the lives of those sleeping rough in Perth.” Over the past two years we have well and truly surpassed our goal of 10,000 each year, as Sonshine’s listeners give so generously to help those in need.
Following the appeal Michael Piu, CEO of St Pat’s, one of our charity partners who received the donated items, expressed enormous gratitude for the community’s support, highlighting how these donations provide encouragement and solidarity to those in need. “What’s so special about this campaign is how Sonshine brings people together – not just to provide support – but to show people who are doing it tough that they’re not alone. It shows them that they have the strength and support not just of St Pat’s, but their community behind them.”
We look forward to seeing Heart For The Homeless continue to grow in the coming years, and we thank you, our Sonshine family, for the way you have so wholeheartedly supported the appeal each year. We could not have made such an impact, or received this award, without your amazing support!