As the current lockdown in Greater Sydney continues, the impact has been concerning for many vulnerable and isolated residents within Pendle Hill Retirement Village. Aware of this, the Retirement Community team made contact with Matt Young from Mission and Ministry to discuss ways in churches within the Churches of Christ community could help.
Pathways, a local Churches of Christ church who have volunteers that visit our Ashwood Residential Care Service, responded to the call out. After some logistical conversations and a donation facilitated by Fresh Hope Engage from the Retirement Community business stream, Pathways pulled together 15 fresh and dry food hampers for the residents. Usually these types of hampers only contain dry food, however Pathways used their contacts at the local Woolworths to obtain fresh food, such as bread, eggs and vegetables.
The hampers were delivered and were gratefully received by residents. However, the wonderful support didn’t stop there. Pathways Office Manager, Lynn Gale shared, “Last Wednesday we organised for some frozen meals to be stored in the Roffey Centre (the Community Hall at the Village) along with loaves of bread, milk, eggs, fruit, vegetables and toilet paper all for residents to ‘grab and go’ as needed.
Alongside assistance from Pathways, a fruitful connection has also been made with the PAYCE Foundation, who, utilising their own social enterprise ‘The Kick Start Café’ are supporting Residents by delivering freshly cooked meals by their team twice a week, at no cost to those in the village most at need. This ensures residents continue to receive at least one wholesome and nutritious meal every day of the week.
The Kick Start Café assists young people find a job, along with relevant training qualifications in the hospitality field.
Belinda Edwards, Head of Retirement Communities has expressed her gratitude to Pathways Community Church, Fresh Hope streams and the PAYCE Foundation for partnering together along with the team on delivering this project.
“It has been a wonderful example of so many different areas of Fresh Hope, big business and social enterprise coming together to help those in need at a time of great uncertainty”, said Belinda.