Refugees; asylum seekers and migrants; people experiencing homelessness; at-risk families; and those living in isolated or low socio-economic areas will be supported through a new partnership between Carinity and the Queensland Baptist community.
Fourteen churches and organisations from Townsville to the Gold Coast have been approved to receive grants through the inaugural Carinity Collaborative Community Projects initiative.
The new program sees Carinity partner with successful Queensland Baptist churches to help fund community outreach programs that will enrich peoples' lives and assist them reach their full potential.
Central to all projects is a commitment to conduct projects that relieve or mitigate disadvantage; promote connectivity for vulnerable people; or increase the strength or local neighbourhoods against disadvantage.
Over $350,000 has been allocated towards the first year of funding, with a number of projects receiving a commitment of additional support in subsequent years. The inaugural grants recipients are:
- Annerley Baptist Church, Brisbane
- Beachside Christian Church, Gold Coast
- CrossLife Baptist Church, Gold Coast
- Gateway Baptist Church, Brisbane
- Hervey Bay Baptist Church, Hervey Bay
- Jehovah Jireh Baptist Church, Logan
- Kruger Parade Baptist Church, Ipswich
- Leichhardt Baptist Church, Ipswich
- Longreach Baptist Church, Longreach
- Northreach Baptist Church, Townsville
- Park Ridge Baptist Church, Logan
- Queensland Conference and Camping Centres, Mapleton
- Reedy Creek Baptist Church, Gold Coast
- Rockhampton Baptist Church, Rockhampton
Carinity's Church and Community Outreach Officer, Sarah Watterson, said the projects will assist vulnerable people within the community in a variety of practical ways.
"These sustainable ventures range from grocery distribution for homeless people and support for migrants, to community gardens and mentoring disadvantaged families," Sarah said.
"This is an exciting initiative which builds on the positive outcomes of the Carinity Innovation Grants, which over 14 years to 2019 saw us support 92 churches to deliver 137 community projects. However, the Carinity Collaborative Community Projects operates on a much larger scale, both in terms of the scope of the projects and the financial assistance we offer."
Carinity Marketing and Communications Manager, Brett Maunder, said the Collaborative Community Projects would also help to strengthen ties between churches, Carinity and its parent organisation, Queensland Baptists.
"This collaboration between churches, Carinity, and Queensland Baptists enables the churches to reach out to their communities, providing services to people in need in the name of Christ. We look forward to seeing how these projects evolve and how churches in both metropolitan and rural areas support members of their local community who require assistance," Brett said.
Carinity will work with successful churches to complete funding agreements in the coming weeks, with funding of projects set to commence from mid-December.
