🌞🚚 Sunday Vinnies Soup Van Run Update 🚚🌞 Braving Melbourne's scorching summer heat, our Inner City Vinnies Soup Van team embarked on the usual Sunday run yesterday. It was a tough one, I'd have to say. The demand for food hampers was exceptionally high, leaving us without supply for our last two stops – a stark reminder of the pressing need in our community. I had never seen that before.
Have you thought about it? For many of us, summer and the heat bring unique challenges and some additional ones for people experiencing homelessness: How do you store your medication in extreme heat? I was reminded of that when seeing someone with prescribed medications next to them yesterday.☀ Where do you seek refuge when temperatures soar above 35 degrees and it’s hot even in the shade?
Our dedicated volunteers hit the streets daily, seeing the challenges and providing crucial support as best as possible, because, well, homelessness doesn't take a heat break.
To combat heat and dehydration, we distributed special summer hampers with essentials like sunscreen, deodorant, insect repellent, caps, and extra water bottles. Socks, a year-round necessity, were also in high demand. We never seem to have enough, regardless of the seasons.
I am truly privileged and humbled to be part of this impactful movement - to work with Vinnies Vic, as St Vincent de Paul Society Victoria is lovingly called, but also to be a volunteer, and I really admire those who have been so much longer than myself: During the day or the week, they juggle roles as civil engineers, school principals, electricians, carpenters. They work on international ad campaigns; they are students, mums, dads, sons, and daughters, all trying to make someone else's life who needs support just that little bit better.
If you feel inspired to contribute, here's a link https://lnkd.in/gfghfdiv. It's worth it. 🤝❤️
#Volunteering #socialimpact #givingback #homelessness #donateforchange #changemakers
