Warm a heart this winter to help people sleeping rough on our streets
This winter, we're asking you to stand with Wayside Chapel to support people sleeping rough on our streets, so that they can come in from the cold and enjoy home-cooked meals, receive warm clothes and hot showers, and be surrounded by a loving community.
During the toughest and coldest days of the year, YOU can warm a heart and show Sydney’s most vulnerable people that they are loved, and not forgotten.
Any additional funds raised over the goal will be distributed to Wayside Chapel’s programs and services that need it most.
Raised so far
$6
Our goal
$550,000
Donate now to provide a home-cooked meal, warm clothes and a hot shower to a person sleeping rough on our streets this winter.
Jessica just donated $2- Nicholas just donated $2
- Jennifer Luke just donated $2
The Problem
Right now, there are 35,011 people experiencing homelessness in NSW alone.
Winter is one of the toughest times of the year for our community, and for people sleeping rough, the colder months are brutal.
With the cost-of-living and rental prices skyrocketing, more people are turning to us for help this winter. We'll need to be ready to welcome an average of 316 visitors a day.
That’s almost 100 additional visitors each day compared to last year at our centres in Kings Cross and Bondi.
We are determined to warm the hearts of people who need us most by providing home-cooked meals, warm clothes and hot showers this winter. But we need your help…
Together, we need to show the most vulnerable people in our community that they are loved, and not forgotten.
The Solution
We’re asking YOU to ‘Warm a Heart’ by making a donation to provide a home-cooked meal, warm clothes and a hot shower to a person sleeping rough on our streets.
Your kind gift will ensure Wayside Chapel continues to provide unconditional love, care and connection to our community, and a warm and loving place for people in crisis.
In the past year...
Wayside Chapel has witnessed unprecedented demand for their services:
50% increase in daily visitors
23% increase in clothes, underwear and socks provided
46% increase in food served
17% increase in hot showers and toiletries services
72% increase in care-coordination for visitors
You can warm the hearts of people like Andrew
As a young, gay man, Andrew left his country town to come to Sydney, searching for a community that would accept and love him for who he was. Like all of us, he just wanted to feel like he belonged.
Sadly, Andrew quickly found himself on the streets - an outcast in a city that can be cold and unwelcoming.
But at Wayside, Andrew was met with warmth and compassion.
“When you're on the streets, Wayside is a safe place to come and hang out and be okay for a while, and not be cold, and not be wet and get a change of socks, or have a shower, and something cheap to eat,” says Andrew.
“I thought, this is somewhere where I'm going to come and hang out, because I’m going to be accepted here.”
Now, Andrew comes to Wayside regularly to see his mates and to take part in our many programs. He’s made many connections in the community, not only with visitors but also with volunteers and staff.
Andrew now feels like he belongs here in this city, as much as anyone.
With your support, we can welcome everyone who need us this winter and beyond.
“When you walk into Wayside, people say hello to you, and they remember your name. You leave feeling like you're a different person than when you arrived.”
- Andrew, Wayside Chapel visitor
How does your donation help?
This winter, more people than ever will come to us feeling hungry, lonely and isolated.
With your help, we can open our doors to bring them in from the cold.
Your support will help provide over 806 blankets and clothes a week to keep a person warm this winter.
Your support will help provide over 2,528 hot showers and toiletries a month to people who desperately need it.
Your support will help provide over 6,456 low cost meals a month from our community cafes.
Your support will help provide over 192 instances of care coordination a week, such as housing, medical referrals and legal support.
A big THANK YOU to our 3 supporters who are warming hearts this winter.
Together, we will show people sleeping rough on our streets that they are loved and not forgotten.
Jessica Parton
Nicholas Smith
Sending lots of love and warm hugs this winter!
Jennifer Luke
You are loved
Lots of love, hugs and warmth this winter.