Church serves food to fight hunger and loneliness

A north Brisbane church is reaching out to the homeless and the lonely through a weekly soup kitchen, and has other projects in the pipeline to help those in need.

Fr Daniel Jayaraj with volunteers Margaret Coombs, Fay Nolan and Allan Bertling preparing food for the soup kitchen at All Saints Anglican Church Chermside. Picture: AAP/Jono Searle

A CHERMSIDE church is reaching out to the homeless and the lonely through a new weekly soup kitchen, and has other projects in the pipeline to help those in need.

The soup kitchen, which started at All Saints Anglican Church a month ago, is the brainchild of new parish priest Fr Daniel Jayaraj who ran a similar project through his Gladstone church.

“When I came here I thought I was moving to a rich place but there is so much poverty here and too much loneliness,” Fr Daniel said.

Fr Daniel (second from left) with soup kitchen volunteers Margaret Coombs, Fay Nolan and Allan Bertling at All Saints Anglican Church Chermside. Picture: AAP/Jono Searle

“I arrived before Christmas and then spent a lot of time walking around the streets and meeting people. We need to have somewhere where people can come and have somewhere to eat.”

The soup kitchen is held in the church hall at 50 Hamilton Rd every Tuesday from 5.30-7pm, offering meat and vegetables or salad, followed by coffee and cake.

The kitchen is currently attracting about 20 people.

“It is for anyone who is alone,” Fr Daniel said.

“We want to fight against hunger and loneliness.

“The congregation is really excited about it and willing to help.”

Church volunteer Margaret Coombs said it was “very satisfying’ to help people in need.

“It reaches out to those in the community who need care, who need a meal, a time for fellowship with other people in the community,” Mrs Coombs said.

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“When you give of yourself you always receive more back; it’s very satisfying.

“I think it’s lovely they (meal recipients) came back. They feel comfortable, welcome and accepted.”

The weekly soup kitchen is not the only way the church helps people in the community.

For the past 30 years the church has been providing grocery hampers to struggling families. Last year 252 families received hampers, 52 in a two-week period over Christmas.

“Most of these people are dealing with domestic violence, are refugees or people who have lost their jobs,” Fr Daniel said.

The church also plans to open an op shop under the hall in two months, where people can have a coffee and pick up a bag of second-hand clothes for $5.

“We also want to install two showers and a washing machine so homeless people can have a shower and wash their clothes,” Fr Daniel said.

“This is what Christ called us to do, to love others and to love God. It’s not about bringing people to church. I don’t see the church as a building, it’s a community.”

■ To raise funds for the soup kitchen, the church is holding a Curry Night in the hall on Friday, April 5 from 6-8pm. Cost $15. RSVP by 5pm on April 1 to 3359 2062.