On Thursday 21 June, MEC Mining’s General Manager – Operations, David Plowman, will sleep out on the longest night of the year on the cold, hard concrete of Brisbane’s Powerhouse as part of the Vinnies CEO Sleepout^®.  It is David’s first time taking part in the annual event which has been supported by MEC Mining since 2015.

For David, it is one night of discomfort, but for more than 116,000 Australians, including more than 22,000 Queenslanders, homelessness is a constant reality. The fact that so many Australians have no place to call home is devastating. Even more so when you learn 32 per cent are children.

“This initiative raises much needed funds to help break the cycle of homelessness and I am happy to be representing MEC Mining and assisting Vinnies.” – David Plowman.  I am striving to raise $5,000 to help the St Vincent de Paul Society Queensland.

St Vincent de Paul Society Queensland CEO Peter Maher said the issue of homelessness is far more widespread than most people think. “The issue is very real for many people — one in eight Queenslanders live below the poverty line and most Australians are just two pay days away from being without a secure place to live,” Mr Maher said.

Vinnies is raising money to provide people experiencing homelessness with vital access to food and accommodation. With these funds, Vinnies not only provide immediate and emergency assistance, but pathways to a brighter future. They also provide education, counselling, employment and health services to help people overcome poverty in the long term.

You can sponsor David on his night out in the cold via his Vinnies CEO Sleepout fundraising page.