THE campaign to save the Yacaaba Centre in Nelson Bay is expanding quickly with almost 400 people joining the push.
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The Save Our Yacaaba Centre campaign was launched on Thursday with almost 100 people attending a meeting in Salamander Bay.
The numbers have since swelled with the campaign's online community about to hit 400 people.
The support for the Yacaaba Centre, which offers counselling and homelessness services on the Tomaree Peninsula, comes off the back of the state budget announcement in July.
Funding which currently helps keep the centre running is to be redirected to the Raymond Terrace Neighbourhood Centre, effectively leaving the peninsula without any social services.
"People are angry," campaign co-ordinator and Labor candidate for Port Stephens Kate Washington said.
"There is a lot of concern for the people who won't be able to access these services in the future.
"We need a physical presence on the peninsula."
Without funding the Yacaaba Centre will have to close its doors in early October.
The campaign is pushing to have funding reinstated and to retain the current services offered by the centre.
A petition was launched at the community meeting as well as the Facebook page Save Our Yacaaba Centre, with digital links to the petition available.
Member of the Legislative Council Sophie Cotsis addressed the crowd at the campaign meeting, as well as community representatives from Salamander Bay Rotary Club, Port Stephens Women in Business, local church leaders, the Tomaree Residents and Ratepayers Association and the Yacaaba Centre.
Fund-raising and awareness events are also being held for the Yacaaba Centre, the first is a dinner on August 29 at The Wharf Restaurant Nelson Bay.
For more information or to add a name to the petition contact Ms Washington on 0408 144 426.