Media Releases

16 April 2013

The Wayside Chapel is urgently calling on Sydneysiders to volunteer

One of Sydney’s most-loved and well-respected charities, The Wayside Chapel, is in urgent need of people who can volunteer during business hours.

The Wayside Chapel is encouraging Sydneysiders who can give up a few hours a week during business hours to come to a volunteer information session on Wednesday, 17 April at 6pm to find out how they can help Wayside continue to serve those in need.

Under the banner of ‘love over hate’, The Wayside Chapel provides a range of programs and services to ensure that the most marginalised members of our community have access to essential health, welfare, social and recreational services. With over 230 volunteer shifts each week, Wayside simply wouldn’t exist without the help of volunteers.

Reverend Graham Long, Pastor and CEO of The Wayside Chapel, said that volunteer shifts during business hours were becoming increasingly hard to fill.

“With over 400 active volunteers you’d think we wouldn’t have any problems filling shifts but most of those volunteers have nine to five jobs. We urgently need people who can pick up a shift once a week or a fortnight so that we can continue to open all of our services,” said Rev Long.

“The Wayside Chapel aims to create a community where there is no “us and them” and volunteers play an important role in this community. What we want from our volunteers is for them to be themselves, to be real, to be free of judgment and to be something that approximates to a neighbour. In the good old days you’d hang over a fence and talk to a neighbour. That’s the sort of relationship we’re aiming for.”

Wayside volunteer Maxine Stewart started helping out in Wayside’s Community Service Centre in May last year on a weekly basis to give something back to the community.

“I started volunteering at Wayside to better understand what homeless people go through and I’ve been constantly amazed with the respect and dignity shown to those who come to the front desk in dire need,” said Maxine.

“Together with helping care for my only grandchild, volunteering at Wayside is probably the richest and most rewarding experience I've ever had. Each time I leave, I come away feeling more humbled.”

Volunteer shifts are generally three hours in duration and can be done weekly, fortnightly and monthly. The next Volunteer Information Session is at 6pm on Wednesday, April 17 at The Wayside Chapel, 29 Hughes St, Potts Point. People can register for the session here http://www.thewaysidechapel.com/volunteering.php or simply show up at 6pm.

For further information, contact Laura Watts on 0406 173 004 or email laura.watts@thewaysidechapel.com

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The Wayside Chapel has provided unconditional love, care and support for people on and around the streets of Kings Cross since 1964. Today, under the banner of Love over Hate, Wayside runs a community services centre, youth space and outreach service, mental health program, community café, and Aboriginal project. Programs and services are designed to ensure that the most marginalised members of our community have access to essential health, welfare, social and recreational services, as well as a place where people are welcome just to ‘be’.