Scarf 2020 Mid-Year Fundraising Appeal This fundraising appeal finished on 30 June 2020. Thanks to our wonderful supporters, we raised $20,270. Thank you. If you'd like to make a tax-deductible donation to support Scarf's work, you can do so here. . In June, we usually run Do More Than Dine, an important event which allows us to raise integral program funds and celebrate the resilience and wonderful achievements of Scarf graduates. Hosted by Scarf Ambassador Matt Preston, our annual fundraising event brings together Scarf trainees, graduates and volunteers with our generous sponsors, big-hearted diners and donors (and epic food by Cumulus Inc). The Melbourne hospitality industry always goes above and beyond with incredible prize donations for our live auction. . It's always a very special night, allowing us to raise crucial funds so we can continue supporting Scarf trainees and graduates, who face significant barriers to employment. Sadly, the current pandemic means we can't run Do More Than Dine in 2020, which greatly limits our capacity to support the young people in the Scarf Community. . But the young people in the Scarf Community need our support more than ever. Please donate so that we're able to continue our important work. . . This video shows some highlights from last year's Do More Than Dine, demonstrating why Scarf exists, and allowing you to hear about our impact first-hand from some of Scarf's legendary graduates. Please take a look! . . Keen to understand Scarf's social impact more deeply? Check out these Q&A's with graduates who appear in the above video, like Diana, Mir, Thelma and Ngot. . What does Scarf's work look like at the moment? Unsurprisingly, Scarf trainees and graduates are greatly feeling the impact of this pandemic and we're working hard to ensure their wellbeing and job readiness remain a priority during this difficult time. Whilst our team is smaller than ever, we've been busy over the past three months. Our current focus includes: . staying in touch with our trainees and graduates to remind them they're part of the Scarf Community, and that we're here to help them however we can broadening our support to provide critical information and resources, and help trainees and graduates access rent relief, welfare payments, visa information, food packages, nutritious take-home meals, multilingual health resources and mental health support services sharing training and employment opportunities in industries other than hospitality helping graduates update resumes and apply for jobs, including those who've lost employment due to COVID undertaking an exciting new role as the auspice organisation for CoVid-19 Employee Assistance Directive, a new not-for-profit helping feed hospitality workers who've lost their jobs due to COVID getting ready to run our first 'Tasting Plate for Women' program, thanks to Melbourne Women's Fund continuing to reach out to the hospitality and wider employment industries to develop and maintain relationships, creating future pathways for graduates (our focus over the next nine months will be on establishing multiple paid work placements for Scarf graduates across various industries) creating and sharing graduate Cases Studies (like Rawan's) and continuing to advocate for fairer and more inclusive hiring practices remaining connected to the community sector, in particular with organisations supporting people from asylum-seeking, refugee and migrant backgrounds, so that we're part of a sector-wide approach to ensure newly arrived young people don't fall further through the cracks making sure we have a seat at the table when the “rebuilding” of the hospitality industry begins, to ensure our graduates are not left behind . Please support Scarf with a donation during this very challenging time, so we can continue transforming young lives well into the future. . Scarf is a registered charity (Public Benevolent Institution) and is endorsed as a Deductible Gift Recipient (under Subdivision 30-BA of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997). Donations are fully tax deductible and a receipt will be sent within 3 days of making your donation. Please email [email protected] with any donation queries. Fundraising Registration Number: FR-000014752. . Do More Than Dine '19. Wonderful Scarf Ambassador Matt Preston poses with the legendary Scarf graduates who ran the front of house on the night. Back Row (L to R) Daoud, Ngot, Matt, Mirna. Front Row (L to R) Hannah, Yar, Samira and Diana. . This fundraising appeal finished on 30 June. Thanks to our wonderful supporters, we raised $20,270! Thank you. If you'd like to make a tax-deductible donation to support Scarf's work, you can do so here. .. . All photos: Samee Lapham. Video: Roger Ungers. Photos and video are from our Do More Than Dine '19 fundraising dinner.