Tales from the Team
- 20 December 2021
- Verity Thomson
| Social Outreach |
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| When the Covid pandemic arrived last year, it hit the homeless, marginalised, asylum seekers and those suffering domestic abuse like a cyclone after a tsunami. Whereas organisations like Rough Edges at Darlinghurst would normally welcome their patrons into a warm building to offer food, a friendly, listening ear and the occasional hug, they were unable to let them any further than the front gate. Lou’s Place Women’s Refuge in Kings Cross was bursting at the seams and the Asylum Seekers Centre in Newtown was swamped with calls from anxious people who were afraid they’d be returned to an unsafe country and who didn’t know how they’d manage to feed their children. The need seemed so great that I wondered if our efforts at SHAP would be enough, but with God’s help we got to work… We arranged an afternoon tea to raise funds to enable Lou’s Place to move to bigger premises. We collected food & nappies, converted our Flybuys points into grocery vouchers and donated pre-loved phones and tablets to the ASC. A small group of us slept rough for Roughtober and were delighted with the amount raised. We walked over South Head to raise awareness for suicide prevention. The Bread of Life team continued to serve breakfast in Surry Hills. Recently we were able to make up food hampers and provide party food for a community Christmas lunch at a church in Redfern. We did make a difference! Thank you for your continued support and prayers for those doing it tough. Merry Christmas! |
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