Volunteers giving hope

Just a few years ago Rick, had a home, a wife and dreams of a steady, comfortable life. However, after reoccurring health issues, a divorce and some unfortunate decisions everything changed, and Rick found himself struggling with the curveball’s life had thrown at him.

Rick is a qualified electrician and a hardworking Aussie but he never thought his life would change so much once he hit his 50s.

After losing his home, Rick found himself living in an old caravan on the edge of an isolated caravan park, located 25 kilometres away from the nearest town. A place where people rarely pass by, let alone visit.

It's quiet, almost too quiet. Yet, it’s the only space he has to himself and can sleep in a proper bed on weekends because during the week, he sleeps in his car, parked near his worksite.

Rick works in a labouring job and he quickly discovered that he couldn’t afford the daily travelling costs so, to save fuel, money and time, he sleeps in his car during the week. This saving has taken its toll on Rick’s body.  Most mornings he wakes up with a stiff neck and back pain which is aggravated by the work he does.

Rick pushes through the physical demands of his job because losing it would mean he is also losing his modest income and his last hold on a ‘normal’ life.

Though lonely, the weekends in the caravan park, offer Rick a chance to stretch out his aching body and get a little bit of rest.

His thoughts often spiral as he considers the future. Living in the Melton area, Rick is all too aware of the rising costs and financial pressures.

Housing in the area is hard to come by and with the current housing crisis in Victoria, makes it hard to find an affordable home to rent. Rick is painfully aware that his caravan might be all he has left if things take a turn for the worse. It’s not enough but he knows it will sustain him.

Every Friday night when he pulls into the caravan park, Rick breathes a sigh of relief knowing that for a couple of days he can relax before the cycle begins again on Monday morning.

Sadly, Rick doesn’t know how long he can keep this up. The job, though hard, is his lifeline and without it, he fears where he would end up. He dreams of something better, something as simple as a warm shower, a home-cooked meal in a safe place to call his own.

The lack of proper food adds to Rick’s struggles. Living out of a car and in an old caravan with basic cooking facilities, means Rick has no way to cook a decent meal. As a result, he now resorts to cheap takeaways and the occasional pre-packaged snacks.

Over time, Rick has noticed that the lack of nutrition has made him feel weak and has affected his ability to work.

Rick doesn’t talk about his situation and hides the fact that he sleeps in his car from his work mates, too ashamed to admit it. His job is the only social interaction he has left. He tries to put on a brave face so that his coworkers don’t see the physical and mental weight he is carrying.

Plus, like many men his age, he is not used to and has never been encouraged to talk about his emotions, struggles and fears or asking for help.

Some things happen for a reason as Rick found out.

Due to safety concerns, Rick moved his car to a new spot and that’s where he became aware of the Vinnies Soup Van and Mobile Pantry services. Curious, he watched as volunteer’s set-up, serving warm food and speaking with people who queued up in front of the van.

A volunteer approached Rick, asking if he’d like a bowl of soup. At first, he hesitated but the volunteer reassured him that there was enough for everyone, including him.

Taking the bowl of soup, his first hot meal in days, Rick found himself returning the next time the van came around.

"At first, I didn’t want to ask for help because that’s simply not who I am and what I do, and I tell myself that others needed help more than me but it’s actually a lie. I need help and those volunteers, they made it so easy to just take that first step, you know. They were there for me. That really felt good."

Over time, Rick began to open-up, sharing bits of his story with the team of volunteers.

The soup van volunteers learned about Rick’s tough situation – living in his car during the week and in an old caravan on weekends with no way to cook a proper meal.

They started bringing him sandwiches to make his days at work a bit easier and items from the mobile pantry he could use back at the caravan for cooking.

“The sandwiches they sorted out for me, it’s what makes my week just a little easier. Makes me feel like I’ve got a bit of a chance again, you know.”

Understanding his need for a more comfortable rest, they also provided him with Vinnies vouchers to purchase new pillows and blankets from the Vinnies Shop near by - small comforts that made a world of difference on the cold nights he spent away from his caravan.

“Getting those blankets and a decent pillow … that was huge. They knew what I needed before I even said it and I can’t thank them enough for that.”

As Rick’s trust grew, the team looked into other ways to support him. They arranged for fuel vouchers to ease his commute and connected him with additional resources and support. Each item he received was carefully chosen to make his daily life just a bit easier. Always mindful of taking only what he needed, Rick never went overboard, picking up just a few essentials each time.

“I don’t need much, but knowing they [volunteers] are there, it’s made all the difference. They gave me hope and didn’t make me feel ashamed and it’s hard to say, but I am just so grateful for that.”

Thanks to the compassion and dedication of the volunteers, Rick now feels seen and supported, knowing he’s not alone in his struggles.

The soup van’s presence reminded him – and many others – that, no matter how tough times get, there’s a community that cares and responds to the growing needs around them, offering practical help and most importantly, hope.

The St Vincent de Paul Society Victoria’s commitment is to respond to and lend a helping hand wherever the need arises – without judgement. The Society is agile and adapts frequently to making the most out of the funding raised. Being at the frontline, out in the community, the Society knows exactly what is needed and makes sure the funds are distributed where the need is greatest.