Volunteers warming up the streets

Des Williams with Cathy Lindsay
For the past seven years, Wellington Manor Retirement Village resident Des Williams has been a volunteer with Rosies, a not-for-profit organisation that offers support to marginalised people or those feeling a sense of social isolation.
Rosies has teams of outreach volunteers on the streets, in the prisons and the courts extending the hand of friendship and often sharing a hot drink and a bite to eat.
The volunteers attend the same locations every week so they can build rapport and a sense of community spirit on the streets. They offer friendship to people and invite them to join the community of Rosies.
Through his work with Rosies, Des is a familiar face at Foodbank where he buys supplies and ensures that the outreach teams have enough food to go around.
“It’s very rewarding to give something back to the community and I’ve met so many fantastic volunteers who give their time generously.
Des invited the Rosies’ Coordinator of Volunteers and Outreach programs Cathy Lindsay, to visit Wellington Manor to meet the residents and chat about how the village could become more involved with Rosies.
Wellington Manor also has a ‘sit and knit’ group of ladies who crochet and knit beautiful scarves and beanies for children and teenagers. Since the meeting, the ladies have decided to donate their knitware to Rosies.
“Even though I only spent a short time at Wellington Manor the sense of enthusiasm and commitment to Rosies was clearly evident,” Cathy says.
“We have distributed their donations to our patrons on the street. The scarves and beanies bought smiles to many young faces as well as providing warmth during the winter season.”
“The response from the residents has been amazing. I placed a basket in the craft room and every day it’s full of all kinds of donations!” Des says
Over 95% of Rosies’ work is funded through donations from the local communities. There are teams of volunteers all over Queensland, including: Atherton, Beenleigh, Brisbane Caboolture, Cairns, Gold Coast, Ipswich, Logan, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba and Wynnum Manly.
If you would like to know more about Rosies Friends on the Street visit their website at http://www.rosies.org.au where you can find out how to volunteer or donate.