Sleepout Success

Several weeks ago the McLaughlins Team, consisting of Ian Kennedy, Teresa Kearney, Shona Sahay and Alex Hamlyn, as well as Geoff Smith of McLaughlins (as chairperson of Sports Gold Coast) braved the cold and participated in the annual Gold Coast Vinnies CEO Sleepout to raise funds for the homeless.

We arrived at CBUS stadium in our winter woollies and made our beds for the night out of cardboard boxes. We then enjoyed a warm cup of soup and a night of presentations, including an inspired choir performance from the School of Hard Knocks. A local woman’s heartbreaking story of drug addiction and homelessness gave us a stark insight into the lives of those less fortunate than us.

Not a lot of sleep was had that night and we all struggled through a weary day of work the next day. Perhaps what hit home the most was the realisation that we were going home to a warm bed that night whilst the thousands of homeless people on the Gold Coast would be facing another cold night on the streets.

Overall, the Gold Coast business community has raised nearly $500,000 which will be used to provide affordable housing solutions on the Gold Coast and allow for a second social worker to be appointed at the  Vinnies Cornerstone premises in Southport.  The Cornerstone program  provides ongoing support to homeless people by transitioning them from homelessness into safe and stable short/long term housing and further, provides ongoing education and support to those who are in need.

Further development plans in the future include the conversion of an administration building in Arundel into housing units for mature women over 65 years of age and the expansion of the current Cornerstone premises.

McLaughlins Lawyers are proud to support the CEO Sleepout for the third year in a row. To date our team has raised almost $3,000. Donations will be accepted until 31 August 2018 and if you would like to donate please go to: https://www.ceosleepout.org.au/fundraisers/mclaughlinslawyers       

Author: Alex Hamlyn

Director: Ian Kennedy

Date: 16 July 2018