Vinnies Regional Director Solange Frost (left) and PAYCE Foundation director Sophie Boyd (centre) with Vinnies, PAYCE and St George Illawarra Dragons volunteers celebrating the new partnership. Photo: Keeli Dyson.
Vinnies vans will continue to deliver vital supports to those in need around the Illawarra with a new funding boost helping to keep the 15-year-old service running in the region.
For more than a decade, St Vincent de Paul has been able to break down barriers by bringing people the things they need where they already are.
“It’s the beauty of the vans because it really is a mobile service and we’re trying to meet people where they’re at,” Vinnies Regional Director South Solange Frost said.
“It’s an incredibly important source of food, support, companionship to people in need and as the cost of living crisis deepens and with a global event that is only increasing, so it’s incredibly important to be able to keep these vans on the road.”
With 13 vans across the state, the service is not only vital for reaching people, but also for building trust to connect them with other services.
“We are seeing increased demand across our van services and all of our support services really,” Solange said. “The Vinnies vans in the Illawarra supported close to 13,000 people last year and across the state that was over 100,000 people.
“Because the van is in that spot every week we get to know the people who are coming, they get to know our volunteers, they’re able to build up a bit of a relationship and establish that trust which is often one of the biggest hurdles for people wanting to seek support.
“And so when they’ve got that relationship we’re able to ask people what’s going on for them, maybe offer support to come to our Coniston hub, maybe get support for the food parcel or see a case worker or get access to housing.”
Now the PAYCE Foundation is ensuring that they can stay on the roads, with a $250,000 donation.
“The PAYCE Foundation was started by my dad; he’s very big on working in the spaces of people that are sometimes forgotten – homelessness, domestic violence, addiction,” PAYCE Foundation director Sophie Boyd said.
“It’s very close to home with what Vinnies works with and aligns closely and especially with times now, the vans being able to reach more people, we find it important to help them out on their mission to serve as many people that need it in the community.”
Sophie had seen firsthand the impact the vans make and just how quickly situations can change.
“I have been out on the vans a few times in Sydney and the stories you hear, it reminds you that it could happen to anyone,” she said.
“I spoke to a gentleman at Redfern a few times, someone probably my dad’s age, had a very successful life and then things just turned and here he is living in housing commission and needing support and finding so much solace in that community aspect.
“It’s been a beautiful experience and an eye-opening experience.”
The vans operate five days a week and are completely volunteer-run, made possible through people dedicating their time to ensure others can get what they need.
“We’re always really grateful for people who give a bit of their time maybe once a week, once a month, whatever it is that they can contribute, to either help come out and do the van runs, but also in our kitchen to make sandwiches, cook those hot meals – it is absolutely through our volunteers that we are able to keep them on the road,” Solange said.
“Being able to be that person’s companion in those really difficult times, people find that incredibly rewarding and knowing that they’re giving back. It just builds a stronger community.
“We’ve also got toiletry packs here with shampoo, conditioner, soap; snack packs we also give out on the vans, but we often rely on those donations from community to be able to stock those.”
To find out more about services and support or to donate or volunteer with Vinnies visit the St Vincent de Paul Society website.
