A teenage homelessness organisation in Mandurah has thanked the community for their support during the coronavirus outbreak.
The team at Peel Passages Youth Engagement Hub help to provide marginalised and at-risk youth between 12 and 26 years old with a safe and positive place to access necessary services.
The organisation has free shower, laundry and kitchen facilities, as well as access to internet and phone networks, and helps young people organise prescriptions, Smartriders and food hampers.
However, since the onset of the global pandemic, they have "struggled to keep up with demand" and have called on local residents for help with donations.
Peel Passages Youth Engagement Hub manager Jade Gillespie said the virus had been particularly challenging for the organisation, but had also brought out the best in the local community.
"The requests for emergency relief from Passages has really increased over the last three months," she said.
"During COVID, the hardship that is being faced by a lot of people has been exacerbated... we have struggled to keep up with that demand.
"We have received monetary donations and the community have been dropping things off.
"During coronavirus, some lovely community members have even cooked meals and boxed them up and brought them in, which has been awesome."
The centre recently welcomed a generous donation from year 10 students at Mandurah Baptist College to help fellow teenagers in need.
Students collected food, bedding, blankets and warm clothing, which Ms Gillespie said was particularly important in winter.
Ms Gillespie added they were "incredibly grateful" for the support.
We're always grateful for any donation from the community because we rely really heavily on them.
- Peel Passages Youth Engagement Hub manager Jade Gillespie
"We're always grateful for any donation from the community because we rely really heavily on them," she said.
"It goes a really long way for us to be able to continue supporting young people in need in our community.
"It's reassuring and refreshing to get donations from young people, because they're the ones who can spread the message between their friends about who we are and what we do."
The Hub, which is a joint venture between the St Vincent de Paul Society WA and the Rotary Clubs of Perth and Mandurah, is in need of everything from pantry food items to shoes, toiletries, tents, sleeping bags, pillows and backpacks.
"There isn't much we wouldn't take, as long as it is in good condition," Ms Gillespie said.
Donations can be made online at www.passages.org.au/ or at the centre, located at 20 Davey Street in Mandurah.
