By Jena Carr
Geelong West Neighbourhood House helped raise money for the Cancer Council through its Biggest Afternoon Tea.
Chair Maureen O’Keeffe said the event raised $762 through a raffle and crafts table for cancer research, prevention programs and support services on Thursday, May 11.
“We as a committee at the Neighbourhood House decided that it might be a good event for us to do to also coincide with Neighbourhood House Week,” she said.
“This event is an opportunity to bring people together and enact our vision which is to celebrate diversity and connect the community.
“We just told people to come and bring a plate. It was a most magnificent afternoon tea, and we had lots of treats and sandwiches. So, we were very pleased.”
Ms O’Keeffe said her favourite part of the event was seeing everyone together enjoying good food.
“There was a lot of really nice chocolate, cakes and things there, but I think it was the general comradery of everybody there,” she said.
“Everybody knows somebody who’s been through cancer or has cancer, and some people have been through cancer themselves.”
Ms O’Keeffe said she was proud of the money the community had donated during, before and after the 90-minute afternoon event.
“It’s quite an achievement in that time some of that money about $200 of that money came from people who donated online, who couldn’t come on the day, and people can still do that,” she said.
“But most of the money, over $500, was actually raised on the afternoon.”
Neighbourhood House Week is an annual national celebration with this year’s theme of Locals Connecting Locals.
Geelong West Neighbourhood House still accepts donations for its Cancer Council fundraiser at biggestmorningtea.com.au/fundraisers/geelongwestneighbourhoodhouse/biggest-morning-tea-vic.