This month the Complete Parts and @ The Coalface $500 Community Gift goes to Soupz On, an organisation run by Wayne and Rosie Dowling which has been providing those less fortunate with a hot meal and friendly chat for ten years in Cessnock.
Soupz On provides free hot meals two nights a week for those sleeping rough, homeless or at risk of being homeless. They also provide a meal through their Community Cafe every second Sunday night and every second Saturday of the month.
In addition to a free hot meal, Soupz On also has donated goods they distribute to those in the community who need them.
The help doesn’t stop there, Soupz On also has a monthly mobile service called ‘Kids Care @ Soupz On’. They take a fully loaded trailer to different parks in Cessnock providing fun for kids while parents/carers look at the donated goods they might need.
Wayne said he got the idea to start hot meals about 10 years ago.
“We’re Christians. God woke me up at 2 o’clock in the morning and asked me to go out and feed the homeless. It took me about 12 months to pull my finger out but that’s what I did.
“We started out with a little van and a gazebo, and we built on it from there. We put together a team and the network just kept growing.
“There was no one doing it at the time when I got asked to do it and I think for about the first month or so we had one or two people but once the word got around, we were averaging 35 to 40 people a night.
“The wonderful part is that we’ve never had to ask for help, it’s always been offered, and they just turn up.”
Soupz On is also looking to expand their services into East Cessnock, Abermain/Weston and out near Branxton.
Wayne said there are recipients who come and go but there are also plenty who have been utilising the service for the whole ten years.
“They don’t just come for a meal, they come for the social side of it too.
“We have a lot of people who have gotten back up on their feet and then through circumstances of their own doing, or out of their control, they’re back where they started again and come straight back to us which is great. They know we can help them.
“Over this last month or so we’ve had about half a dozen people that we haven’t seen for over 12 months just rock back in again.”
Wayne said they look after people society tends to shun, with absolutely no judgement.
“We treat everyone the same as everyone else. We’re a big, happy dysfunctional family. The respect goes both ways too. We respect them and they respect us and know we are genuine.”
Wayne said at Soupz On they always need dry goods for hampers that they give out to those in need and particularly over the colder months they’ll take blankets and warm clothes.
| Soupz On provide meals Wednesdays and Fridays 5pm to 7pm at the TAFE Park Rotunda, Cessnock. Every Sunday fortnight they serve meals at the Abermain Mission Hall Church, 5pm to 7pm. The Kids Care @ Soupz On meet on the 2nd Saturday in the month at the Alkira Avenue Park at East Cessnock. To get in touch with Wayne and Rosie at Soupz On call 0432773340 or email sec.soupzon@outlook.com.au |
