Cynthia came in seeking assistance with food, as she and her family were suffering from financial hardship. As we do with all our first time guests, we seek a little of their time to fully understand their journey, their finances, their challenges and what we can do to help. By asking the right questions, so much can be learnt.

Cynthia told us that she and her partner have four children at home, their 2 youngest children have severe autism, making it hard for them to go anywhere as a family. Big crowds, loud noises can all get a bit too much to bear for her children, so leaving the house is too stressful. Making Cynthia and her partner feeling overwhelmed, tired and very isolated.

After Cynthia had shared her story, we offered her a tour of Hope kids world, our campuses huge indoor playground. We let her know about the programs we run on a Wednesday afternoon calledHope Kids hang out, designed for older primary school kids to come and use the playground in the afternoon. While the kids play, their parents can sit back and socialise with the other parents connecting over a coffee.

It was May 2021 that Cynthia first came seeking emergency relief, which led her to find a safe place for her children to go and play. In July, she registered her children to attend our five-day school holiday program called camp colossal. She and her partner now regularly attend facility and have now made some new friends. On Wednesday afternoons, they bring the kids to Hope Kids hang out.Cynthia and her daughter even participated at the newly created event for mothers to bond with their daughters, beautifully blessed, which was held earlier this month.

Cynthia finding a safe place for her children to come and play created a place for her and her whole family to feel welcome, and that gave them a sense of belonging, a community for them to be a part of.