Rosie Hosking plans to step out of her comfort zone on a cold night next year to show support for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, and the effort made by "Dubbo Vinnies" to help them.
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She was among the nine people who took part in the "Dubbo Vinnies" sleepout on June 22 at St Brigid's Parish Hall, preceded by a community dinner attended by more than 85 people.
The combined events raised more than $8500 for Dubbo Vinnies to help people without a home or struggling to keep a roof over their heads.
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Mrs Hosking, who was the sleepout's top fundraiser, reports that fellow participant Scott Macleod opted to spend the night outside the hall.
"I wish I had known he was going to do that earlier in the night because I probably would have joined him," she said.
"At next year's sleepout that will be my goal."
Mrs Hosking took her son's swag "with a little mattress" and wore warm clothes to the sleepout, her first.
"It was probably more comfortable than what homeless people sleep on and certainly not as cold as it was out on the street," she said.
The teacher, businesswoman and sacramental program coordinator for St Brigid's Church is keen to help raise awareness of the plight of people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in the city.
"I see homeless people around Dubbo now and it probably wasn't something you noticed so much before," she said.
All-night companions on June 22 pulled out all stops to raise more than $6000.
They used Facebook, Messenger, emails, texts and word of mouth to raise the money.
For the first time donations were accepted at www.communitysleepout.org.au/dubbo.
Mrs Hoskings' tally of $2100 as of Friday was a welcome "surprise" and the result of a proactive approach that included the sending of 130 texts.
"If you don't ask you don't get it," said the mother of two who plans to encourage friends to take part in the 2020 sleepout.
Mrs Hosking first came into contact with Dubbo Vinnies about 15 years ago when she got involved in its Christmas hamper appeal.
Her role as sacramental coordinator has involved visits with children to the Dubbo Vinnies shop in Brisbane Street where a "care and support" centre is operating behind the scenes.
"In the last two years I've probably become more aware of what else they do besides run the shop," Mrs Hosking said.
"The thing about Vinnies is there's no paid positions."
In the year ending May 11, Dubbo Vinnies helped 1300 people at a cost of $100,000.
More than 1400 food parcels costing $75,000 were distributed to people in need.