Five ways you can help Adelaide’s homeless this winter

IT’S a cold a windy night and you’re at home by the fire. Meanwhile, a homeless man is about to go to sleep on a bench with nothing but an old sleeping bag to keep him warm. Here are five ways you can help the homeless this winter.

Volunteer Eilish Taheny at Vinnies on Waymouth Street. Picture: AAP/Keryn Stevens

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IT’S a cold a windy night and you’re at home by the fire with a hot chocolate in hand. Meanwhile, the homeless man you walked past a few hours earlier is about to go to sleep on a bench with nothing but an old sleeping bag to help keep him warm. A heartbreaking yet harsh reality. Here are five ways you can help the homeless this winter.

Pay it forward

The concept is simple. When you go for your morning coffee, pay for an extra one in advance so someone in need can enjoy a hot beverage too. One cafe that’s passionate about paying it forward is Light Square’s Lime Square Cafe. It has provided more than 300 coffees and nearly 200 meals to Adelaide’s homeless, thanks to the generosity of its patrons. Whitmore Square’s Cafe Outside the Square is another supporter of the less fortunate. The not-for-profit cafe provides hospitality training for underprivileged groups and, once the cafe closes to the public, volunteers from Vinnies come in and serve meals to the homeless. Meals purchased throughout the day help fund meals supplied to the homeless at night. Details at 8410 9077 (Lime Square Cafe) and cafeoutsidethesquare.org.au

Go op-shopping

The saying “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure” could not be more true when shopping at Salvos and Vinnies op-shops. Next time you’re in need of a wardrobe update, head to these stores where you can find everything from dresses and coats to shoes and jewellery. If you rummage the racks long enough, you might even find a designer handbag waiting to be snapped up. For your nearest op-shop, visit vinnies.org.au and salvos.org.au

Donate

If you’re not into op-shopping, donate your preloved goods so others can make use of them. Consider it an early spring clean. The Salvos and Vinnies offer drop-off points so all you have to do is fill up a bag and deliver it to your closest store. Non-perishable food items can also be donated to Hutt Street Centre and agencies including Baptist Care SA on Millers Court (off Wright St) in the city. Details at baptistcaresa.org.au and huttstcentre.org.au/donate

Cook for a cause

Looking for a fun, team-bonding session with your colleagues? Pop on your chef hat and apron and get cooking in the kitchen at OzHarvest, located in Bowden. Its Cooking for a Cause program allows groups to take part in a cooking class where meals such as handmade pasta and salads are delivered directly to communities in need. You’ll leave knowing you’ve done something positive for the community, plus you’ll have a heap of new kitchen skills to take home. To book your session, email [e-mail]

Volunteer

Not-for-profit organisations such as the Hutt Street Centre rely on kind-hearted people to lend a helping hand. Each week the centre has 180 volunteers assisting in a range of areas, from fundraising and admin to events and meal prep. Volunteer positions currently up for grabs include kitchen support, which help serving meals and washing dishes, and a nutrition volunteer who is able to help develop a cookbook for those who have recently moved into housing. For more information and to apply, phone [phone]