This is not a “knock, knock” joke but a notice about the AUstralian SVDP “Doorknocker” campaign. They have a  recruiting drive in Catholic secondary schools and beyond the borders of parishes into the general community is expected to boost the ranks of Vinnies doorknockers this year.

But Vinnies still needs many more volunteers to ensure all bases in Canberra and Queanbeyan are covered for one of its most important fundraisers of the year.

St Vincent de Paul Society president Frank Brassil said the annual Vinnies Doorknock Appeal raised about a quarter of the funds needed to keep its emergency assistance program running.

This year’s target is $340,000, a small and “not unrealistic” increase on last year’s figure.

“The success of the Doorknock Appeal is directly linked to the number of volunteers who put their hand up to help. Volunteers can knock in their local area, as individuals or in groups and can doorknock at any time which suits them throughout the month of February,” Mr Brassil said.

Many of this year’s volunteers will also carry new, more secure receptacles for donations in the form of goblet-shaped blue containers.

Mr Brassil said it would take a couple of years to procure enough containers to equip all doorknockers.