Beloved Sydney reverend’s shock revelation about his charity

Reverend Bill Crews says many people who used to donate to his charity are now putting their hands up for help, as thousands sought a free meal on Christmas Day.

Among the throngs of people lining up for a meal at the Bill Crews Foundation on Christmas Day were a few faces that stood out to the beloved minister.

Not because they were regulars at his foundation’s headquarters at Ashfield in Sydney’s inner west, but because in years gone past they were the same people who donated and contributed to his charity.

The Reverend Bill Crews Foundation has been providing assistance to the homeless and those in need for 35 years and every year, it hosts an annual lunch on Christmas Day.

On Wednesday, an army of volunteers provided a free, hot Christmas lunch to an estimated 3000 people who filed through the doors of the Liverpool Road establishment.

Premier Chris Minns and Reverend Bill Crews at the Crews Foundation Christmas lunch on Wednesday. Picture: NewsWire/Flavio Brancaleone.

Bill Crews with NSW Premier Chris Minns. Picture: NewsWire/Flavio Brancaleone.

But with the cost-of-living crisis worsening and more and more working people struggling to make ends meet, Reverend Crews said more people were putting their hand up for assistance.

And, he noted, many of those were formerly people who gave to his charity.

“People who give us money are now accepting meals,” Reverend Crews said.

“When that happens, there’s something very seriously wrong in the way the world is working.

“Good leadership and good government is how you look after the poorest of the poor, because the rest can look after themselves.

“And unless we do that, unless we concentrate on that, we’re in for a very difficult time.”

Mr Minns helped feed punters at the Bill Crews Foundation on Wednesday. Picture: NewsWire/Flavio Brancaleone.

An estimated 3000 people lined up for a free meal. Picture: NewsWire/Flavio Brancaleone.

Reverend Crews said he had seen the gap between the rich and the poor getting greater and greater.

“Australia used to be built on workers so that people could work and earn money and buy a house and do all of those things,” he said.

“Today, if you’re a worker, you fall behind. The people who are making money are the people with money … So the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer.”

Just as he said that, a woman walked past and loudly exclaimed: “Capitalism, Bill. Capitalism. Aboriginal people are socialists. That’s why we never had a problem.”

Reverend Crews continued: “If the gap gets too broad, then society starts to break down.”

Standing side-by-side with Reverend Crews when he made the comments was NSW Premier Chris Minns, who was on-hand at the foundation on Wednesday to help hand out free meals.

Mr Minns with some of the people at the foundation. Picture: NewsWire/Flavio Brancaleone.

Chris Minns said many Sydneysiders were doing it tough. Picture: NewsWire/Flavio Brancaleone.

Mr Minns was seen ducking into the back kitchen and fetching plates of food and cans of coke before delivering them to the open dining room.

He helped out and mixed with punters as an army of volunteers dressed in green shirts escorted people to rows of tables where they were served.

Mr Minns acknowledged times were tough for a lot of people.

“Bill’s charity and many others across Sydney, the Salvos, St Vincent de Paul have all reported major increases in people needing services that might be food, it might be Christmas presents and donations,” he said.

“We know that if you live in the second most expensive city on earth, you’re going to be doing it tough either to make your mortgage or to make your rent and to get through Christmas.

“And I’m full of admiration for mums and dads who might have to pull two or three jobs just to make ends meet, I know it’s been a very difficult, difficult year for them and I’m hoping 2025 brings better economic news.”

Originally published as Beloved Sydney reverend’s shock revelation about his charity