Jan Gilbert, of Northreach Community Church, with goods for the homeless. The church has a weekly drop-in centre which offers goods and services to the struggling.
Camera IconJan Gilbert, of Northreach Community Church, with goods for the homeless. The church has a weekly drop-in centre which offers goods and services to the struggling. Credit: Supplied/Martin Kennealey        www.communitypix.com.au d440163

Church organises service day for needy

Lauren PedenJoondalup Times

Community Connect, an event organised by Northreach Community Church, will offer haircuts, clothing, hot food, accommodation referral as well as access to medical care and homeless support services under one roof.

It follows the recent opening of the church's Thursday morning drop-in centre which gives those in need a hot meal, drink and a place to relax from 9am to noon at its premises in Winton Road, Joondalup.

Event co-ordinator Jan Gilbert said providing for the growing number of people struggling in the area was essential.

PerthNow Digital Edition.
Your local paper, whenever you want it.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

"People don't realise how many there are and that people don't choose to be in those circumstances," Ms Gilbert said. "Just to be able to reach out and help people is all we want to do and that's what we're here for.

"We have no idea how many people will come on the day. We could have anywhere between two and 200 and we hope to be prepared for as many as we can handle because we want to be able to meet everybody's needs."

She said while some service providers had already joined the cause, they wanted to attract more as well as local businesses willing to donate.

"Id love if businesses could donate clothes and shoes for men, women and children, new or in good condition," she said.

"We'll be having a barbecue, soup, coffee and tea and cake. We'll have free massage, free haircuts, they can just sit here and relax and there'll be face painting and some toys and things."

Ms Gilbert said they also hoped to collect items for children and for hairdressers to offer their help.

"We'll be offering the care side" we'll have a volunteer for each person or family who comes who can look after them the whole time and to take them to the services that might be appropriate for them," she said.

"We'll have a free clothing shop so that we can find clothes that fit them and we'll have other warm items mainly for the homeless, including sleeping bags.

"We hope it would grow. This is the first one that's been held up in this region and there are a lot of people in need here."

She said so far the weekly drop-in centre, which opened about five weeks ago, had only attracted a few people but hoped more would come as word spread.

"It's just been a slow start we only have about three people who come in but they come in every week.

"They're starting to tell other people because they feel welcome and that's actually really lovely. THE ESSENTIALS – Community Connect will be held at 5/116 Winton Road, Joondalup from 10am-2pm on Saturday, August 1. – To help, call 9301 0054 or email info@northreach.com.au and for more, click here.