A day of service in Sydney’s Kings Cross district
By Gabrielle McCarthy, Operations and Program Services Manager, South Pacific
On two early mornings this past August, Grand Circle’s regional office staff and South Pacific Program Directors participated in a community service event at the Wayside Chapel in Sydney’s Kings Cross district. Kings Cross is the city’s red-light district, and the Wayside Chapel supports residents living on the streets, prostitutes, and people with drug abuse problems and mental health issues. The Wayside Chapel provides these individuals with showers, low-cost meals, clothing, and referrals for housing, and health and welfare agencies. They also offer counseling clinics, drop-in activities, a youth space, and an area for “judgment-free” coffee and conversation.
Grand Circle’s regional associates and South Pacific Program Directors woke early to serve breakfast at the Wayside Chapel in Kings Cross.
Grand Circle’s South Pacific team spent each morning cooking and serving a barbecue breakfast for anyone who chose to drop by. There were eggs, bacon, sausages, tomatoes, bread, orange juice, tea, and coffee. We spent time with the locals, chatting with and getting to know them, while they enjoyed their breakfast in the courtyard in front of the Wayside Chapel.
Two of our newest Grand Circle associates—Rod Hills-Johnes and Victor Martin—stepped in to take control of the barbecue. Both morning barbecues were a wonderful experience for everyone involved and something we look forward to participating in again.
LeeAnn Fiedler and Victor Martin manned the barbecue for this special community service event.
One of the visitors to our breakfast, a Croatian immigrant named Ivan, wrote this poem for us as a “thank you”:
When We Were
You fed us when we were hungry
And said a simple Hello
With the voice of sincerity
And somewhat mellow
Through the sounds of a distant bell
Our hearts are joined together
With the symphony of love as well
The minds and souls are getting better
You disappear suddenly without sight
The stardust gently follows
I admire quietly into the night
The city acknowledges
The amazing day flows
Learn more about the other community service events Grand Circle Foundation supports by visiting their website at www.grandcirclefoundation.org.