Imagine you had no bed for 5 years...

On John’s first night, he slept 16 hours straight.

On the chilly morning The Salvation Army found 86 year old John, he was living out of his ute in a carpark.

Please make a donation today to help people doing it tough this winter.

Too many Australians are homeless. Others are on the brink, literally forced to choose between heating and eating. Your gift would see more receive food, shelter and other basic necessities from the Salvos when they need help most.

A night in a soft bed, a bowl of soup, a hot shower, a blanket, clean clothes, a food hamper, money for a power bill. In supplying these to people who are frail, vulnerable and needy, you give warmth, relief, dignity – an instant physical and emotional lift that can prompt them to change their situation.

John now has a happier new life. His eyes often well with tears when he talks of the Salvos.

“You’ve helped me,” he says. “You’ve changed my life.”

A true Aussie battler, John grew up in orphanages then worked hard as a truck-driver. Still he and his wife had been happy in their relocatable home, until after his 80th birthday, when she fell ill. The mounting medical bills made a frightening situation worse. Then sadly she died.

Overwhelmed and grieving, John could hardly think how to pay the bills. Finally he got square. But his money was gone, and ultimately his home too.

He was painfully thin and desperately needed a change of clothes on the day he heard a tap on his ute window. It was Salvos Community Engagement Worker Stephanie and her volunteer helper Russell. Neither wanted to startle the old man from his sleep. So they knocked quietly, pointing to the red shields on their shirts. Seeing two friendly faces, John lit up with a huge smile.

Back at John’s local Salvos Connect drop-in centre – one of a network that good people like you help us run across Queensland, NSW and the ACT – his public housing application was rushed through. He had a cuppa, sandwich and a hot shower. Then he was set up with clean warm clothes, basic furnishings and some shopping.

Less than 24 hours later he was walking through the door of his new public housing unit. That blissful first night in a safe cosy bed, he slept for 16 hours.

This winter please help us make sure no more people like John are left out in the cold.