WHEREVER there is a human in need, there is an opportunity for kindness and a chance to make a difference. This has become the core value of Care 4 Life, a group of committed and compassionate men and women who feed and care for the community of Wentworth.
The group was born from a church ministry that couldn’t sit back and look on as their fellow brothers and sisters struggled to make ends meet or even go to bed hungry. “Some years ago our small Christian faith sharing group under the guidance of the Holy Spirit began by making sandwiches and juice to hand out to the needy in the parks in our area. The number of people receiving this little token of love steadily grew and it became obvious that there was a great need for food in our community especially among the little children. And so under the guidance of the Holy Spirit we decided to prepare cooked meals from our homes and then collect and distribute to the less fortunate in the parks,” said member and coordinator of Care 4 Life, Hugo Hayes.
The crowds continued to grow and the group realised the need to arrange something more sustainable. They got permission from Christ The King Parish to use their kitchen in order to prepare meals every Saturday for the needy and distribute in the parks. The initiative was financed by the generosity of the small Christian community and other generous members of the community.
Care 4 Life has fed the poor, counselled drug addicts and alcoholics and referred people for rehabilitation. One of the group’s most anticipated community outreach events is its Christmas Day luncheon for less fortunate families, which began 18 years ago in Hime Street Park under a little tent.
This year the group will host the Christmas Day luncheon at the Austerville Community Hall at 12pm and will be joined by the St. Gabriel’s Church Soup Kitchen team and men’s group, who have supported them for many years. “Many generous members of the community and friends regularly donate towards this ‘love inspired’ event that draws hundreds and hundreds of men women and children. Without them we could not sustain this event,” said Hugo.
With the number of people growing each year, so does the demand for more meals to feed families on Christmas day. Care 4 Life appeals to the community to assist with food donations to help them continue their mission in adding a little warmth and festive cheer to the less fortunate. Toiletry donations are also a need. “I have been at every luncheon since its inception and have long discovered that our Christmas celebrations have taken on a new meaning for us that is too unique to measure or put into words,” said Hugo.
To donate or for more information, contact organising committee members, Hugo Hayes on 084-680-0086, Daria Hayes 084-454-6064 or Carmel Smith 082-538-4095.
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