Volunteering for a Cause
A desire to help others is driving volunteers to catch a ferry from Brisbane to Macleay Island to support locals facing disadvantage.
The Neighbours Van: A Mobile Shop for Good
Operated by Gateway Baptist Church and supported by not-for-profit Carinity, The Neighbours Van is a mobile shop from which free groceries are distributed to people in need who have been referred by local agencies.
“With the increase in the cost of living, times have been tough for many families, including those who haven’t experienced such hardship before.
Rising Demand and Tough Times
“The demand for support in the community has skyrocketed,” Coordinator Karyn Frylink said.
“We are seeing on average 28 families on Macleay Island each visit, and we’ve given out more than 150 grocery bags full of food.
This has allowed us to make more than 300 care connections to families and individuals on the island.” Karyn stressed that The Neighbours Van isn’t a walk-in service.
Collaborative Community Projects and Sponsorship
Eligible Macleay Island individuals and families have been invited by local charity partners. “There are six agencies and community organisations that we are working alongside that invite people in need to attend,” Karyn said.
“The van is packed to capacity to carry enough food for the 40 invitations we ask agencies to give away to families in need each month.”
Past Initiatives: The Neighbours Van in Logan
The Neighbours Van is sponsored by the Collaborative Community Projects, run by Brisbane-based not-for-profit, Carinity.
The program funds community outreach programs run by Baptist churches to relieve and mitigate disadvantage, promote connectivity for vulnerable people, and increase the strength of local neighbourhoods.
For the past two years, The Neighbours Van and its volunteers have visited Logan, to support refugees, asylum seekers and migrants living in that community.
