HUNDREDS in need of food and support converged at Russell Square on Wednesday.
The annual Homeless Connect Perth event saw several charity organisations offer their services to those in need, including clothes, food and haircuts.
Volunteering WA volunteer Serena Richardson offered free hugs at the event and estimated she gave more than 700 hugs by midday.
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READ NOW“Hugs are completely different; a lot of people don’t receive something as simple as human touch at all in some instances,” she said.
“Some people I hugged today said they hadn’t had one in such a long time.
“Another girl said she really needed it because she had been fighting with her boyfriend.”
The Greek Orthodox Church in Northbridge and St Andrews Grammar School students spent weeks collecting donations to hand out at the event including clothes, non-perishable food and toys.
Reverend Elpidios Karalis said food always went first.
“We’ve have seen an increase in homeless people over the years; the ideal would be to have zero but unfortunately we do get about 800 to 1000 come through,” he said.