Members of Wahroonga Adventist Church (Sydney, NSW) have come together to provide vital assistance to people facing extreme hardship amidst the rising cost of living.
The church’s women’s ministry team has spearheaded an initiative aimed at providing essential hygiene items to those receiving support from the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) in Blacktown. This western Sydney suburb has a high percentage of residents living below the poverty line, many of them facing homelessness. They are often forced to choose between buying personal hygiene items and necessities like food.
In response to this critical need, the Wahroonga women’s ministry team launched the ADRA Pamper Packs project. The goal: to fill 110 (55 male and 55 female) reusable carry bags with items such as shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, body wash, combs, toothpaste and toothbrushes.
Church members enthusiastically embraced the initiative, with some individuals taking several of the bags to fill. To date, 72 of the bags have been delivered to ADRA.
Not surprisingly, the pamper packs have been warmly welcomed by those doing it tough. “ADRA said the response from the people receiving the bags is “massive relief” and “you should see their faces light up’,” said Marilyn Todd, who organised the initiative and is a member of the women’s ministry team. “They are in such desperate need, and this helps them to restore some dignity.
“This initiative not only helped the end recipients of the pamper packs, but it was a huge blessing for each person who participated in filling the bags. It created a hype of activity and community in our church. People helping people.”
For 23 years ADRA Blacktown has been a lifeline for thousands of individuals facing hardships. Their services include food relief for 12,000 people annually, alongside counselling and case management support for hundreds of individuals each year.
