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DineSmart Is About Local Community

By DineSmart

20151205_DineSmart_0097DineSmart is all about dining out and chipping in.  It brings together committed restaurant crews and committed diners, working together to help fund some of our smaller, local homeless services.  Diners donating $2 per bill have helped StreetSmart raise $3.6 million to support 1147 projects Australia wide.

Last week I met up with Chin Chin Executive Chef Ben Cooper and Caroline and James from Youth Projects in Melbourne.  Last year Chin Chin were our top national fundraiser and some of those funds raised went to support the crucial work of the team at Youth Projects in Hosier Lane.  They are probably just 500 metres apart.  They operate in the same neighbourhood.  It’s a great example of how StreetSmart not only raises vital funds, but also helps connect communities and raises the profile of smaller services and the work they do….often unnoticed.  This is what Caroline wrote when reporting back on last years grant….

“Youth Projects Ltd. were the successful grant recipients of a $5000 grant to supply 20 WINTER SURVIVAL KITS for clients who attend the Living Room Primary Care Clinic in Hosier Lane, Melbourne.

The kits contain essential items that people experiencing homelessness felt they would need to survive the harsh winter temperatures and conditions. The kits contained a swag, thermal beanie, scarf, socks, gloves, undergarments and sleeping bag. Research showed that these items were considered by clients to be the most important in staying warm during the night in winter.

This winter has been extremely cold with temperatures frequently reaching zero so the kits were distributed within a matter of weeks of us receiving them.  You could say they were a life saver!

Obviously no one wants to see people without a roof over their heads, sleeping rough on the streets.  It’s dangerous and harsh, but currently there are few housing options for people in crisis.  These kits are a practical emergency response, bringing some comfort for those with no other alternative.   

Jack and Alison were a couple who presented to the Living Room Clinic within the first week of us receiving the kits. They were newly homeless due to being harassed and threatened, and presented in a distressed state with no warm clothes, bedding, food or toiletries. After a brief assessment of their situation it was established that Jack and Alison were the perfect people for a winter survival kit. They left with a kit each and were comforted by the fact that they were going to be able to stay warm and protected from the winter weather. We were able to help the couple over a number of weeks, eventually helping them return to their housing once the perpetrator had been removed and the situation had been resolved.

A huge thanks to all the restaurants, their staff and customers who make these community grants possible.  You are impacting many people’s lives in a very positive way.”

So, as we enter the final weeks of 2015 DineSmart campaign I wanted to thank everyone involved. That’s all the restaurateurs who gave the nod, the front of house managers and staff who run the campaign in venue and all the donors who chip in their $2’s.  Last year over 100,000 tables did just that, and helped people like Jack and Alison who, in their time of crisis, turn to the small organisations we fund and find help from people like Caroline and James.

You can DineSmart until the 31st December at participating restaurants.  Check the map here:

If you’re not dining out but support our work in the community you can donate here

CafeSmart 2015 funds 132 Community Projects

By CafeSmart, StreetSmart News

151125-SSA-Cafesmart-132-Community-Grant¹s-2015----facebook-post-yellow_D1On August 7th, 491 cafes, 27 coffee roasters and thousands of coffee drinkers helped raise $135,612 to fund local grassroots homeless projects.  For every coffee sold, cafes donated $1, coffee roasters supplied beans and customers chipped in.

Across Australia, coffee heads came together to effect change in their local communities.  100% of the funds raised by CafeSmart combined with other funds raised by StreetSmart have now been allocated through 132 Community Grants totaling $151,800.  Grants target helping people who are homeless or at risk in communities where cafes have raised the funds.

Adam Robinson CEO of StreetSmart Australia said “Having over 500 small businesses involved and engaged during National Homeless Prevention Week, not only raised vital funds but also created great awareness around the issue of homelessness and what people can do to help.  Yet again the coffee industry has shown how generous and community minded they are.  The funding raised goes to some of our smallest, yet vital, community groups and not for profits, who have seen funding stripped out of the sector.”

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DAY 1 of DineSmart

By DineSmart, StreetSmart News

150861 SSA DineSmart 2015 Social Media - Day 1 SquareToday is Day 1 of our 13th DineSmart event. Hooray!

As celebrations for the festive season gather momentum (YIKES!) around the country, we’re calling on our supporters to ‘Dine Out Help Out’ at 126 restaurants around the country and chip in a micro donation to help fund grassroots homeless projects. It’s a gentle nudge to us all at a time of year that can get a touch self indulgent.

Last year over 100,000 tables added their $2 donation and contributed to local social impact through our community grants. These grants may seem small but are vital at a time when funding to homeless services has been cut and demand increased.

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CafeSmart raises $135,612

By CafeSmart, StreetSmart News

150985-SSA-CafeSmart-2015-Thanks-Facebook-Image-FINALThe results are in… and we drank coffee and did good!

On 7th August 491 cafes participated in CafeSmart 2015 to make it our biggest yet and huge success. Generous Cafe partners donated $1 per coffee sold on the day, supported by a list of top coffee roasters, sponsors and generous customers who also chipped in.  Last years $120,000 tally has been beaten – and $135,612 was raised on the day!  We applaud  and thank everyone who got involved, sponsored and donated, and make special mention of our top fundraisers and Award winners.

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CafeSmart Photo Comp Winners

By CafeSmart

During CafeSmart each year we ask supporters to help raise awareness through social media. By taking a photo using our CafeSmart logo as inspiration and hash tagging it #CafeSmart supporters were entered into our photo competition. We had some awesome prizes offered up by 5Senses Coffee, Crumpler and Joco Cups.

photo comp 1stCafe BuReunion Cafe

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Silver Chef partners with StreetSmart to build DineSmart

By DineSmart

For 12 years StreetSmart has been partnering with businesses across the hospitality industry to bring about social change in their local communities. Over 1000 restaurants and cafes have been involved in either DineSmart or CafeSmart, raising funds to power grassroots homeless projects. If you had asked me what kind of company I would like to work with, to build our events and social impact, I couldn’t have imagined a better fit than Silver Chef.

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StreetSmart’s new website goes live!

By StreetSmart News

150341-SSA-Nav-squares-4Wow – we made it, our new website is live!  As anyone who has ever taken on a similar endeavour will tell you – it ain’t easy – and we are all a few years older than when we started!  We are very excited at what the new site brings to our work and we have many people to thank.

Reading this, it will also strike you that we are blogging for the first time. We plan to use this channel for our news and also invite guest bloggers on issues close to our heart – this could be homelessness, affordable housing,  social enterprise, hospitality, restaurants, coffee etc…. lets see where it takes us…. Read More