When life stands still but the world stays the same

Rachel was two weeks away from giving birth when her world was turned upside down.

As she waited with anticipation for the imminent arrival of her second child, she received harrowing news that her husband, Tony, had been seriously injured in a car accident.

In that moment, Rachel’s life stood still. However, the demands of the world stayed the same.

As she tried to manage looking after her newborn daughter, Ivy, young son with autism, Max, and incapacitated husband, the mounting pressure of attending medical appointments and keeping up with rising cost of living expenses – all while being unable to work – took a toll.

“I didn’t really ask anyone for help. I didn’t really know what to do,” says Rachel.

“I was doing a lot of travelling trying to get to the hospital as much as I could… not sleeping very much… not getting much done around the house.”

Fortunately, Rachel’s circumstances changed when she came into contact with a St Vincent de Paul Society NSW member named Margie.

The St Vincent de Paul Society NSW assisted more than 87,000 people in their time of need over the past year through our statewide network of members.

Margie is one of many members who give of themselves to make Vinnies more than a charity.

“There are a lot of hidden people that are struggling, and they remain hidden and in need of a lot of help,” explains Margie.

Members like Margie offer a human touch that goes beyond a food hamper or supermarket voucher. They understand the circumstances of each person they encounter and act to meet individual needs. Our members understand that there’s no one size fits all approach – it is through taking the time to get to know someone that they can help to bring about change for the better.

“There are all sorts of ways we can help people. The best thing that we give is love and care.”

It’s through this approach that Vinnies has been able to assist Rachel in a variety of ways, including support with electricity bills, accessing dental care and organising local workers to help her move into a new home after the family’s lease ended.

One of the most impactful displays of support came during the first Christmas after Tony’s accident where Margie lived out the spirit of the festive season with a delivery of gifts for Max that left a lasting impression.

“He remembers the day that she came with the presents,” says Rachel.

“It was a significant moment. He was so tiny as well, but he’ll never forget. Because there had been so much trauma, and then to have someone just show up with a little sack of toys was just a magical moment – it was really wonderful.”

The support provided by Vinnies has offered Rachel greater stability and a support system she can turn to during times of hardship.

“Our rent here has just been going up and up and up and up. It went up by $50, so that’s another $100 a fortnight. Plus, you’ve got petrol, things like that. It’s just water bills, electricity, so everything, you name it.”

Thankfully, Margie and Vinnies will be there to support Rachel and others in similar situations in times of need.

“She knows that she can ring me up anytime she wants to have a cry on my shoulder. I think that’s just wonderful that I can help people that way,” says Margie.

Rachel is one of the thousands of people the St Vincent de Paul Society NSW is able to assist each year thanks to the generosity of supporters like you.

As cost of living and housing pressures intensify in communities across the country, you can rest assured that your contribution is making a difference to people in need of assistance.

As Rachel can pay testament to, “anything that you give will go to the right place.”

“Giving to Vinnies is giving to those in the community, because when you are in trouble, that’s where you go.”

If you haven’t already made a donation to the Vinnies Autumn Appeal, please give so that vulnerable people, including families like Rachel’s can look towards the future with hope. Donate online at www.vinnies.org.au/nswautumnappeal.