Reach Homeless Services are now offering breakfast packs for those most in need.
Filled with a piece of fruit, juice, a healthy bar, a box of sultanas, and a milk drink, the packs are being distributed through Islington’s Suspension Espresso cafe.
Discreetly contained within brown paper bags, those in need are also welcome to a free coffee at the Beaumont Street address, in a bid to start the day with a smile.
Reach executive director Gary Parsisson says providing the day’s first meal to those who might otherwise go without, was an idea born from a gap in the system.
“Chris Johnston, the cafe owner and Reach director, had the idea some time ago. He’s been offering free coffees to the homeless for some time now,” he said.
“After the Newcastle City Council offered us access to some COVID emergency relief funds, we decided to create these breakfast packs to make sure our city’s homeless were starting their day with a decent feed.”
Discretion was deliberate, he said.
“There’s no labels on the bags, no fanfare, no stigma, nothing that reeks of desperation, they’re just a brown paper bag with some good food inside.
“The breakfast costs us about $2.50, it’s nothing really, and it gives someone a good start to the day, which is priceless.
“So far it’s working well.”
Gary says the group currently distributes 60 to 70 packs a week.
“We’re doing the breakfast packs seven days a week,” he told Newcastle Weekly.
“I think that’s the success of Reach – that it’s every single day; whether it’s raining, or it’s Christmas Day, or it’s lockdown.
“Homelessness doesn’t discriminate so we have to be there all year round.”
The funding, Gary says, is thanks to a $6,500 NCC grant.
Gary and his 15-year-old daughter buy the supplies and assemble the packs, topping up supplies at the cafe as needed.
“I prefer to use the term ‘disconnected’ rather than ‘homeless’ because it’s not just about sleeping on street corners sheltering under newspaper, sometimes it’s living in overcrowded conditions, or in a boarding house, or in a car.
“It’s about doing it a bit tough, so we’re never going to ask someone to prove their circumstances to us. If you need it, it’s yours.
“We’re committed to continuing to provide assistance to those in the community who are dealing with homelessness or are at risk of homelessness, as well as those who are just in need of food, a hot drink and someone to connect with.”
Gary hopes the idea will branch off into other directions in the future.
“We’re hoping the next stage is to feed kids before school, once lockdown is over. We don’t know how far we’ll take it but for now it’s putting smiles on faces and that’s a welcome success.”
The breakfast packs compliment the group’s regular Friday night service in which the city’s homeless are welcome to collect a care pack from the Commonwealth Bank Hamilton carpark.
Go to reachnewcastle.com.au for more details.
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