Will you help give hearts a place to gather this Christmas?
Help bring connection to our community at one of the loneliest times of year.
The festive season should be a time of joy and togetherness. But for many of our visitors at Wayside Chapel, it’s the loneliest time of the year. We will be busy over the next couple months welcoming over 270 daily visitors through our doors.
People come to Wayside for many reasons, from essential support like hot food and warm showers, to a cuppa tea and a sense of connection with community. In fact, last year we saw a 117% increase in people needing crisis support during this time and we expect the need this year will only continue to rise.
Christmas is when our collective generosity and spirit of community should shine the brightest. The need for togetherness and belonging is what brings people to Wayside all year round, especially during the festive season.
With your gift this Christmas, you can ensure everyone has a place to gather and feel loved.
Please give generously if you can.
“A lot of places close on Christmas day, but that’s when everyone needs them most. We’ll be at Wayside for Christmas this year.” - Peter, Visitor
Jesse's Story
Jesse was just 17 years old when he first came to Wayside. Now 34, he’s been part of the community for half his life.
“When my son, Jesse, was growing up, he struggled with autism and he didn’t have many friends. Lots of people start using drugs because of loneliness,” says Peter.
On some of his roughest days, Jesse survived two overdoses and found himself in and out of jail. “A lot of people said ‘give Jesse the flick’, but I stuck by him."
“If it wasn’t for Wayside, I don’t even know if my son would be here now, to be honest.”
Fast forward to today, and Jesse has completely turned himself around with the unwavering support of his father and Wayside Chapel.
From housing support, access to rehab facilities, to just meeting Jesse exactly where he was during the hardest times, the Wayside community has been a big part of his story and his road to recovery.
One of Peter and Jesse's treasured activities these days is joining the weekly community lunches at Wayside. And this Christmas, they're planning to spend the day together here, at Wayside Chapel's street party. "It's so good,"
“It's so good," says Jesse. "Everyone's welcome. Love over hate.”
Jesse and his father Peter connect over a meal at Wayside's Community Lunch in Bondi.
What does your donation do?
Christmas is a season of giving, and we couldn’t be more grateful for the people who choose to show their generosity at this time.
Your gift this Christmas will help us meet the urgent and rising demand for support.
Please give today.
Last year during the festive season, we had 19,084 visits to our Kings Cross and Bondi Community Service Centres1.
This is just some of the support we were able to provide:
12,936 essential items of clothing and bedding
2,772 warm showers to people sleeping rough.
20,057 nutritious, low-cost meals
Thanks to you, we'll be here to deliver love and connection.
As a frontline organisation, Wayside Chapel plays an essential part in providing unconditional love, care and support for some of Sydney's most vulnerable people. This includes those who are experiencing homelessness and social isolation, and who are facing physical and mental health challenges.
Everyone who walks through our doors is a person to be met, not a problem to be solved.
With your support, we provide a variety of support services that everyone can access on a daily basis. From necessities like shower and toilet facilities, food and clean clothing, to housing support and healthcare, our frontline workers are always there to provide the tailored wrap-around support that people need. Plus, a space where everyone is welcome and can connect with community.
It's a space where you help us create community with no 'us and them'.
Please make your donation today - Thank you for choosing love over hate.
All donations to Wayside Chapel over $2 are tax-deductible.
If you have any questions or would like to make a donation over the phone, please call (02) 9581 9101.
Alternatively, you can email christmas@waysidechapel.org.au
