"Be the hope our community desperately needs right now" Support the Hervey Bay community through The Salvation Army's Red Shield Appeal this year
The Salvation Army
29 April 2026
“Be the hope our community desperately needs right now”
Support the Hervey Bay community through The Salvation Army’s Red Shield Appeal this year
The Salvation Army in Hervey Bay is calling on locals to dig deep and get involved in the Red Shield Appeal this year, raising vital funds to support those in our local region who are doing it tough.
Australia’s largest and longest-running door-knock appeal is in its 62nd year and aims to raise $41 million nationally, which funds life-changing community programs across the country.
“We know that people are doing it really tough in our community right now, as global uncertainty coupled with further increases in the cost of living locally puts an incredible strain on individuals and families. We know that many are on the edge of breaking point as they struggle to make ends meet,” said Major Jacqui Warrington, leader of The Salvation Army at Hervey Bay.
“That is why we are calling on those in Hervey Bay to dig deep, get involved in the Red Shield Appeal, and be the hope our community desperately needs right now.”
The funds raised for the Red Shield Appeal will support people within the Hervey Bay community and surrounds, will be used to meet the needs faced by those who are struggling and need a hand.
“There is no better way to support those doing it tough than by donating or volunteering with us this year. We can’t do our work in the community without you, so we are calling on people to partner with The Salvation Army this Red Shield Appeal and see the powerful transformation that takes place when we come together to support our fellow Aussies in need,” Major Jacqui Warrington added.
The Red Shield Appeal culminates in the Red Shield Weekend (May 30 and 31), and there are a number of ways to get involved throughout the month of May- volunteering by collecting at local shopping centres and other locations, door knocking, online fundraising, organising a collection at your workplace, school or sporting event and making a donation.
The Salvos across the country are aiming to recruit an army of 15,000 volunteers for the Red Shield Appeal this year, so please reach out to your local Salvos to find out more about volunteering opportunities by visiting salvationarmy.org.au/red-shield-appeal
Across Australia last year, through The Salvation Army’s network of over 400 centres and 2,000 services in areas such as homelessness, family and domestic violence, youth, drug and alcohol rehabilitation, financial hardship and much more, the Salvos provided:*
- Assistance to one person every 17 seconds
- More than 1.74 million sessions of care to over 228,000 people in need
- Over 1 million nights of safe accommodation
- More than 1.4 million meals to those who accessed our homelessness services.
To donate or volunteer for The Salvation Army’s Red Shield Appeal, or if you need support from the local Salvos, visit https://digitaldoorknock.salvationarmy.org.au/o/hervey-bay-salvos or call (07) 4125 1848. You can also donate at any Salvos Store.
ENDS
For more information, please contact QLD External Communications Manager – Rendle Williams 0425 242 789, or The Salvation Army’s Media Relations Department on (02) 9466 3143
*The Salvation Army’s Annual Report 2025
Media Alert
THE SALVATION ARMY LAUNCHES 2026 RED SHIELD APPEAL
Media invited to attend
Friday 1 May, 6:30am – 8:30am
The Hervey Bay Boat Club, Buccaneer Drive, Urangan
On Friday 1 May, The Salvation Army will officially launch The Salvation Army’s 2026 Red Shield Appeal in Harvey Bay, with a breakfast with Hervey Bay's most influential business people at The Hervey Bay Boat Club
The MC David Lee MP will be encouraging the business community to continue their support of The Salvation Army’s frontline services and fundraising drive in Hervey Bay with a focus on helping women experiencing domestic violence and homelessness. Joining business leaders of Hervey Bay will be The Salvation Army's Major Chris Millard.
The Red Shield Appeal, which includes community and shopping-centre collections, online donations via a digital doorknock and culminates in the traditional doorknock appeal across the weekend of 30-31 May, is vital in enabling The Salvation Army to continue providing help to people in need.
The national fundraising target for the 2026 Red Shield Appeal is $41 million.
What: The Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal Breakfast Event
When: Friday 1 May 2026
Time: 7am - 8.30am- event – colour vision and speakers
8.45am - media interviews
Location: The Hervey Bay Boat Club, Buccaneer Dr, Urangan
Who: David Lee MP, Chair, Red Shield Appeal Business Committee, Hervey Bay
Major Jacqui Warrington, Leader, Hervey Bay Salvation Army
For early news grabs, or B-roll and further comment, please contact Rendle Williams, The Salvation Army External Communications Manager, Qld on 0425 242 789