ST Vincent de Paul's efforts to help those in need next winter have received an early boost from St Mary's Catholic Primary School, who donated blankets and cash.
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The school's mission team, led by year 6 students Millie Banks and Alexander Bayada-Harvey, collected the blankets and also held a muffin day at the school to raise $400.
It came during a period of transition for Vinnies in Orange.
The charity has opened a care and support office at 88 Bathurst Road to replace its former McNamara Street home.
Phil Donnan has also taken the helm as northwest regional director, leading administration for the Armidale and Bathurst Central Councils.
The region now stretches to the Queensland border.
Mr Donnan was previously the executive officer at the Armidale Central Council, while former Bathurst Central Council executive officer Bruce Buchanan has moved to the coast.
The drought's still there and we're not expecting it to go away anytime soon.
- Vinnies northwest regional director Phil Donnan
Mr Donnan said resources had been "a little bit tight" due to the impact of drought and bushfires and restructuring would mean Vinnies could continue to meet community needs.
"The whole thrust is to push more resources to the regions to make sure we can be more effective with our services," he said.
"The drought's still there and we're not expecting it to go away anytime soon."
People in need can seek support from the Bathurst Road office and Mr Donnan said the "hand-up" rather than "hand-out" approach remained.
He hoped to make the care and support centre function as a training hub, in addition to its usual function.
He said discussions were ongoing with Orange City Council about where to house the charity bins after they were removed from McNamara Street.
"We hope to have them somewhere by early next year," he said.
Until then, he asked residents with donations to keep taking them to the Vinnies shop in Peisley Street.
St Mary's religious education co-ordinator Glenn Corben said the mission team of 20 volunteer students had been working to the principle of creating a world with justice for all and asked Vinnies where the need was.
"This year, it was blankets," he said.
Mr Corben said students sourced blankets, mostly surplus stock from Orange Health Service, to help people through the colder months.
They also held a muffin day.
"There were cupboards and cupboards of [the blankets] at the hospital so instead of throwing them away, we've been able to collect them," he said.
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