Context…
In August 2021, P4K purchased a Mobile Kitchen Van to go into the streets of Melbourne to help feed the homeless and those in need. Homeless people are often ostracised, ignored, marginalised and stigmatised. People become homeless and fall through the cracks of life through a variety of reasons…loss of families, jobs, or businesses and have no one to turn and nowhere to go.
Being homeless / living rough / living under the poverty line are a community in themselves…a community of the streets. Sometimes they look after each other; sometimes they hurt each other, but most of the time they live and battle demons unable to shake the influence of drugs, alcohol and violence of every kind.
Paradise 4 Kids Community Kitchen in Melbourne is a small group who offer hospitality with a free hot meal, a free hug, and a free chat…showing that love still exists in this world. They have been working the streets in Melbourne and now wish to expand into Adelaide, South Australia and then into all the capital cities.
We want to continue to develop as a community. Building relationships between volunteers and the Homeless and as a group, to help grown and develop the Homeless. We try and treat people as if we are inviting them into our own homes, despite being out in a carpark or in the streets. And it works. Over time volunteers learn the stories, names and issues of the various people and families coming. And they learn our stories as we share with them.
P4K have expanded this service in Melbourne to include secondhand clothing. The teams in Sydney and Brisbane are providing new clothes. In Brisbane they are providing new fresh meals and some accommodation also.
Aim
The project aim is to expand our reach into the streets of every major city in Australia and provide a welcome relief to the homeless and those in need in a forgotten part of the Australian society.
Project to date
We currently feed and help around 200 people in Melbourne. The mobile kitchen van is parked on Local Council, Community or private property with approval from the owners. Currently in Melbourne the van visits St Albans in the council carpark for 4 hours once a week from 5.30 pm till late or when the last person is served.
All food is home cooked by supporters & volunteers from mostly donated ingredients. Usually there are 3 to 4 volunteers serving food from the mobile van with 2 persons distributing donated clothing. Other volunteers are mingling and talking to the people being served.
In Mid-January the Sydney and Brisbane teams started…
- Sydney team have visited the Rag Trade area and have ordered special Homeless Clothing from China, which will also be distributed in Melbourne and Brisbane.
- Brisbane, supporters have joined together, in cooking food in the IGA Local Supermarkets Kitchen to be distributed to Church groups for their Feeding programs helping the Homeless and providing some accommodation.
Project ongoing
The mobile kitchen van will continue in Melbourne with the service increased as funds available. It is planned to commence a mobile kitchen van service in Adelaide and other capital cities in areas of need.
The project will continue to expand to include provision of clothing and some accommodation and other needs as they arise.
Beneficiaries
The project will benefit all people at risk of homelessness, experiencing homelessness, those with disabilities and victims of crime. All ages and gender who are experiencing hard times financially, emotionally or spiritually are welcome.
You can help…
To help propagate this life changing service to the homeless and others in need in our society by increasing the number of mobile kitchen vans available in Melbourne, Adelaide and the other capital cities, please click on “Donate to this Project” on the right sidebar. Thank you.
All gifts are tax deductible and will benefit this project in their entirety except for bank fees.
