![Cowra mayor Ruth Fagan and Kaye Chapman cut the Community Chest birthday cake at the Cowra Markets on Saturday. Cowra mayor Ruth Fagan and Kaye Chapman cut the Community Chest birthday cake at the Cowra Markets on Saturday.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/KmaUEninnpnf2uAdKbuj4Q/1d4cc3a9-1e7f-4469-9cdb-2273ff065bec.jpg/r1012_323_3216_2948_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
"It's been an amazing thing for our community," Cowra mayor Ruth Fagan said of the Cowra Community Chest.
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The organisation celebrated its 20th birthday during a small ceremony at the Cowra Community Markets on Saturday, November 18.
"I pay tribute to the organisers who thought of this 20 years ago," Cr Fagan said before cutting a cake to mark the occasion.
"I know many people have been helped by the community chest and I am really excited we can celebrate 20 years.
"I know it is not easy being on a volunteer committee these days. To have a community committee to help those in most need in our community is really important. I congratulate you," Cr Fagan said.
A special guest at Saturday's ceremony was Kaye Chapman who helped found the Community Chest.
"In 2003 I became aware of a need for people to be able to pay their medical bills," Ms Chapman said.
Some of these people, she said, were sleeping in hospital car parks or didn't have the means to pay for medical bills.
"Out of that awareness came the Cowra Community Chest. We've had absolutely fantastic support from the community and we've done fantastic things for people.," she said.
On the downside Ms Chapman spoke of the difficulty getting volunteers to assist the Chest.
"Our volunteers have aged 20 years, I am hoping someone out there knows someone out there who can help out.
"It is not a continual thing, you can do something, be here (at the markets) once a month, or just do something. Otherwise the Chest will go away.
"The community has enabled us to do this, we thank the community very much, we thank the volunteers who have just been magic. This is very important, we are talking about people's lives," Ms Chapman said.
The Cowra Community Chest has provided more than $54,000 in assistance to Cowra families over the past 12 months.
Assistance from the Chest is not limited to a single circumstance. Many of their clients have on-going needs or chronic illnesses and in these cases further help is often necessary.
The Cowra Community Chest can be contacted for assistance at PO Box 208 Cowra or by phoning 0428 462 837.
Cowra Community Chest may not approach prospective clients, unless they have given permission to do so. A family member or a third party who might make contact with the Chest.
The Chest can be contacted for assistance at PO Box 208 Cowra or by phoning 0428 462 837.