It’s National Volunteer Week and aid agencies are calling on Queenslanders to step up and volunteer for the homeless.

With the cooler months setting in, The Salvation Army says now’s the time to be lending a helping hand to those less fortunate.

Chanelle Rodger reports.

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This week marks National Volunteer Week recognising the valuable contribution individuals provide to the community.

Australia has over six million volunteers, representing 36 per cent of the adult population.

But more help is still needed.

Julie Molloy, Volunteering Queensland: “It’s really important that we have volunteers in lots of different settings, but as it gets colder, a lot more people will use those services.”

Statistics show that Queensland’s homeless population is on the rise.

Major Neil Dickson, The Salvation Army: “The Queensland homelessness figure is higher than the national average and I think that’s a lot to do with climate and the lack of affordable housing as well.”

Having volunteers is one thing, but The Salvation Army is still calling for food and clothing donations to meet the growing demand of homeless services in Brisbane.

44-year-old Danny Pye says The Salvation Army saved his life.

Danny Pye: “Especially people who come with food and people like that. I don’t know what drives them to do that in the middle of the night in the pouring rain, but they’re great people.”

Volunteering events will be held throughout the week.

Chanelle Rodger, QUT News.