Hunt
4 Homeless
MacGillivrays
has been supporting Hunt 4 Homeless since 1998.
Hunt
4 Homeless operates on weekends at The 139 Club which is a drop
in centre for the homeless or anyone experiencing difficulties
in their lives. Hunt 4 Homeless aims to provide a better quality
of life for the homeless, destitute and socially isolated people.
MacGillivrays’ support includes raising money and buying
produce and provisions for and preparing and serving meals on
weekends and all public holidays.
In
1998, John Hunt, a former employee of the firm, realised that
when State and Federal Government offices shut up offices on
Friday afternoon, the support provided to the needy also closed.
On weekends, no funding was being provided from government sources
to feed the homeless and destitute.
Initially,
with a band of 12 volunteers (many from, or with, MacGillivrays
connections) John cooked and fed Saturday lunch to an average
of 40 people at The 139 Club at 505 Brunswick Street, Fortitude
Valley.
Now,
almost 50 volunteers serve lunch on Saturdays, Sundays, Christmas
Day, Boxing Day and all public holidays.
The
volunteer’s philosophy is to only serve food that he would,
himself, eat at home. The cost of ingredients for meals is currently
around $2500- $3000 per month.
In
2003, John Hunt decided to gather research on destitute people
by living in a hostel for the homeless for five months.
As
a result of his experience, John discovered that people are
rarely homeless because of an addiction. Homeless people are
often on a downward spiral because they view their life as hopeless,
without any joy and with nothing to look forward to. Once in
the spiral, the momentum and negativity increases and it is
difficult to get out of the spin.
In
providing hot, cooked meals to the homeless and needy through
The 139 Club, the aim is to provide some comfort and quality
to the lives of Brisbane’s less fortunate.
In
December for the past four years, MacGillivrays ran an appeal
through its Client Information Bulletins to collect Christmas
presents and cash donations to help Hunt 4 Homeless. As well,
in 2006, MacGillivrays staff put together a 'recipe book' which
was sold and the proceeds given to Hunt 4 Homeless.
Collecting
food, presents and other 'Christmas goodies' is now an annual
event. Each December a box is placed at the bottom of our Christmas
Tree for people to place gifts and food for Christmas Day.
MacGillivrays
sponsors and runs a monthly raffle throughout all offices to
continue to raise money for Hunt 4 Homeless.
Many
MacGillivrays’ people give up their spare time to volunteer
for different organisations and charities.
As
a result of our appeals
Additional
MacGillivrays’ staff and Partners and some MacGillivrays’
clients have become regular volunteers on weekends at Hunt 4
Homeless (approximately 12 times a year) cooking and serving
meals to the homeless.
A woman now supplies small hand-make cakes of soap for each
homeless person who uses the showers at the Club;
MacGillivrays’
clients and staff regularly donate thoughtful gifts, lollies,
chips and nuts for Christmas Day;
The firm receives,
throughout the last year, bags of clothing, blankets, shoes
and food.
About
the 139 Club
The
139 Club was established in 1975 by a group of concerned citizens
as a drop-in centre and refuge for the homeless and destitute.
It was first housed at 139 Charlotte Street, Brisbane, hence
the name. In 1983, the 139 Club became an independent Incorporated
Association, receiving some Government funding. During the International
Year of the Homeless [1987], the 139 Club received a Government
Grant to build a new Centre at 505 Brunswick Street, Fortitude
Valley.
The
139 Club's Philosophy statement reads -
"The
139 Club aims to provide a better quality of life for the homeless,
destitute and socially isolated people, within their own framework.
While self-reliance and participation are strongly encouraged,
clients are accepted and supported unconditionally. This is
the basic philosophy of the 139 Club. We are providing a safe
and stable, non-denominational, non-political and non-racial
environment with a holistic approach to meeting people's clients'
needs on physical, emotional, intellectual, spiritual and social
levels.
Our
operations have a strong emphasis on social networking to expand
clients' horizons, minimise social isolation and improve their
self-esteem by providing support, contact and avenues for change
towards improved quality of life and relationships with the
wider society.
Australian
Red Cross Blood Donations
MacGillivrays’
staff members are blood donors at the Blood Bank’s “Club
Red” scheme every 12 weeks.