The ADRA Community Connect Wauchope “SouperVan” has been serving hot soup and buns to the local community for almost three years. What began as a soup and bun outreach ministry of the Wauchope Seventh-day Adventist Church has evolved to also provide the most vulnerable with access to fresh produce, hygiene items, blankets, pet food, and crucially, a safe space and a listening ear.
“Over the course of this year, our vibrant team has worked tirelessly to share the love of Jesus with our community,” says Troy Eggleton, ADRA Community Connect Wauchope activity manager.
Amy’s experience with the SouperVan is one story that has stuck with Mr Eggleton and shows how crucial their ministry is in being the hands and feet of Jesus and meeting people where they’re at.
When Amy, who is in her 80s, first started coming to SouperVan, she was feeling desperate and depressed. Life had become extremely difficult financially and, due to her living circumstances, she was lonely and wondered how she could possibly keep going.
“Amy quickly became a regular,” says Mr Eggleton. “She started to stay back with us for our prayer at the end of our service evenings and expressed that she loved our prayers and being around happy and kind people. Amy then joined us for our church’s Depression and Anxiety Recovery Program and followed that up with our social evenings and Forgive to Live programs. Now, Amy regularly comes to church, stays for our lunches, and is eagerly awaiting the commencement of her Bible studies to prepare for baptism, expressing that she now sees our church family as her family.”
The SouperVan team provides 80-120 meals every Wednesday night. With Christmas around the corner, SouperVan has made plans to ensure their volunteers have a much-needed break without leaving their regulars in a tough spot.
“Our team is currently working diligently in a commercial kitchen to prepare 250 meals which will be distributed during our final week of service before our break,” says Mr Eggleton. The meals, which will be cryo-packed, consist of plant-based chicken and roast vegetables.
While a meal helps to meet physical needs, the team recognises the importance of bringing joy at Christmas time.
“In addition to this meal, our local IGA have generously donated toys for our younger children that attend SouperVan, while members of our local council have offered to provide some special fruit including mangoes to add to the meal,” Mr Eggleton says. “Our local Wauchope church have also put together some non-perishable hampers to be distributed. Hopefully, all of these provisions will help make our two-week absence a little easier to bear for those doing it so tough.”
Mr Eggleton expressed that, in every moment in SouperVan’s ministry where they identified a need, God provided.
“We are so blessed to serve a God who understands our needs and desires and is willing to provide for us as we serve our local community,” he says. “Consequently, our local community is gaining a better understanding of who Seventh-day Adventists are, who Jesus is and what ADRA does in our communities.”
Thank you to the partners without whom the work of ADRA Community Connect Wauchope “SouperVan” would not be possible: ADRA Community Centre Macquarie Fields, Aussie Battlers, $5 Coffee Charity, Forgive to Live, FRRR, “Give Hope Today” Op Shop, Hastings Co-op SUPA IGA Wauchope, Nedley’s Depression and Anxiety Recovery Program, OzHarvest, Slade Refrigerated Transport, Wauchope Rotary Club, and all the regular local businesses and community members who support this ministry.
Tony Eggleton/ADRA Australia
